EU applications to the UK Universities has been down dramatically by 9% according to UCAS reports.
The number of EU students applying for places on some of the most sought-after courses in the UK’s leading universities has dropped by 9%, according to Ucas, which administers university entry.
The data applies to a limited number of courses with an earlier application deadline of 15 October but the marked decline in interest from EU students will lead to fears about the damaging impact of the Brexit vote on the UK’s universities.
The data was published on Thursday and relates to applications for all courses at Oxford and Cambridge universities, as well as applications for medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses elsewhere, beginning in September 2017.
Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said the full picture would only become clear after the main January deadline, which usually makes up 90% of total applications. But she linked the decline in applications to uncertainty over government financial support for EU students. “This fall does, however, highlight the importance of ensuring that prospective European applicants are made fully aware of the fees and financial support arrangements well in advance of the applications window,” she said.
“The Ucas process for accepting applications for 2017 opened on 6 September but the government guarantee on fees and financial support for EU students for 2017 entry was not provided until 11 October, only days before the October deadline. To avoid future uncertainty, we need the government to extend these transitional arrangements now for EU students considering applying for courses starting in 2018. These prospective European students will soon be starting to consider whether to apply to study at British universities.”
Just days before applications closed this month, the government finally issued a statement reassuring EU students hoping to begin their studies next year that they would continue to be entitled to the same terms and conditions as home students, with £9,000 fees and access to the student loan book for the duration of their studies.
Many in the sector complained the intervention was too late and are now urging the government to eliminate future uncertainty for potential students from Europe by extending the offer further.
The 9% decline brings to an end the recent trend for increasing numbers of EU applications to UK universities. Numbers applying for courses governed by the 15 October deadline have dropped by 620 to a total of 6,240 – reversing an 8% increase at the same point last year and a return to 2015 levels.
Contrary to the overall trend, Oxford University said it had seen a 1% increase in applications from EU students and a 4% increase overall to more than 20,000 for 2017 entry, with international applications up too. A spokesperson said: “While there has been understandable uncertainty around the implications of the UK’s exit from the EU, we are confident that students from the EU continue to see Oxford as a welcoming and attractive option for undergraduate study.”
Cambridge University reported a decline in applications from EU students, down from 2,652 last year to 2,277 this year, in the context of an overall increase in applications to 16,875.
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