Surge in Chinese demand for British universities: Record 28,000 students from China apply to study in the UK with applicants now outnumbering those from WALES
- There has been a 12 per cent increase in university applications from China
- Record number of disadvantaged British students applied for university
- Number of EU applicants fell, number of prospective students should be same
The number of students from China applying to study in the UK have outnumbered those applying from Wales, according to Ucas figures.
There has been a 12 per cent increase in applicants from China, to 28,930 – up from 26,000 last year and 6,900 in 2013.
It makes China the second largest overseas market for British universities after the European Union.
Meanwhile, there were 12,660 applications from 18-year-old prospective students in Wales.
Elsewhere, a record number of disadvantaged British students applied this year, as 28 per cent of the poorest 18-year-olds hope to get their degree.
The number of EU applicants has fallen, meaning the overall number of prospective students should be the same as last year.
There has been a 12 per cent increase in applicants from China, to 28,930 – up from 26,000 last year and 6,900 in 2013 (file image)
Clare Marchant, chief executive of Ucas, said demand from China, India and Hong Kong proved Britain’s universities still had appeal
Nigeria brought the largest rise, with applications up 47 per cent to 2,380, reported the Times.
Clare Marchant, chief executive of Ucas, said demand from China, India and Hong Kong proved Britain’s universities still had appeal.
She added: ‘While applications have been very resilient throughout the pandemic, the robust demand from China, India and Hong Kong shows the enduring appeal of our world-class universities, with our recent report indicating that nearly nine in ten still view the UK as an attractive place to study.’
During lockdown more online conferences and events were put on by universities, reducing costs for disadvantaged students.
Many of those students were drawn to careers such as nursing where jobs after study are ‘guaranteed’, Ms Marchant added.
Overall, the number of applications for full-time undergraduate courses set to begin in September fell by one per cent (file image)
She added that figures will have been influenced by an increase of three per cent in the UK population.
The number of 18-year-old sending off applications from by five per cent, while the number of mature applicants fell by 17 per cent.
Overall, the number of applications for full-time undergraduate courses set to begin in September fell by one per cent.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it was ‘remarkable’ there had been an increase in the number of applications from disadvantaged students – after the pandemic disrupted education.