The number of Indian students coming to the UK has halved in 4 years, while thousands choose to go to the US or other European countries instead, a study has revealed. Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency shows that 16,500 Indians enrolled on degree courses in 2013-14 compared with 31,200 in 2009-10. Study has also revealed the figures indicate that Indians made up of 6% of overseas enrolments in Britain last year, down from 14% in 2010-11.
Ministers have claimed that one of the major reasons for a drop in Indian students coming to Britain in recent years is the closure of nearly 800 bogus colleges that enrolled international students but did not have the required infrastructure or standing.
The bogus colleges were mainly in the “further education” sector that provides vocational skills and certification. They were closed after 2010, when Home Office evidence showed many Indian and other non-EU “students” enrolled with them were working instead of studying.
But Ministers have told Parliament this week that after the crackdown on bogus colleges, the number of Indian students going to universities – instead of further education colleges – had gone up.
According to the Hindustan Timres, responding to a debate on international students at Westminster Hall, immigration minister Robert Goodwill said: “The proportion of Indian students coming to study in the UK at a university increased from around 50% in 2010 to around 90% in 2015.
“This trend of smaller volumes of students with greater concentrations in higher education is likely to reflect the recent policy changes to clamp down on immigration abuse by non-genuine students and bogus colleges.”
The same figures were cited by minister of state for home Susan Williams in the House of Lords at the end of a debate that included a forceful intervention by Lord Karan Bilimoria, who regretted that official rhetoric about student visas was adversely affecting a successful export sector.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Ashish Jain, a student in India, preparing to study abroad told Asian Voice, “Indians automatically want to go to the UK for higher studies. We can call it a colonial hangover. But the UK government has completely misunderstood our intention and why we are choosing Australia, US, France and Germany over the UK.
“A reason for the drop in Indian students going to the UK was the closure in 2012 of the post-study work visa, popular among self-financing Indian students, who have used it to gain work experience after their courses and to recover some of the cost of their study and stay. If you are paying a wopping £30,000 tution fee, you obviously would like to work in the UK- not only to gain experience, but also to earn back some of the money you have spent.
“Not everybody is super rich and we often take bank loans to go and study abroad. One must understand the need of the time. I am not saying I want to stay back illegally, but after spending thousands to study abroad, we must have that room to gain international work experience and earn some money back, that was invested in our education.”
By 2025 India will have world's largest population of 18-22 year olds, according to a British Council report. Claire McNulty, the British Council's acting Education Head told The Times newspaper, “International students bring benefits both in economic and terms and in terms of the benefits that UK students and universities gain from exposure to talented people with different backgrounds and experiences.
“We need to consider carefully how to continue to attract students from India and elsewhere.”
A report by Open Doors, in partnership with the US Departmnent of State, said that Indian students contributed $5billion (£4 billion) to the US economy and that India was the second highest contributing country after China. But after Donald Trump has been elected as the US President, it's likely the Indian students will choose Canada, Germany, France or even Australia and New Zealand over the US.
Canada aiming for Indian students
Canada has announced new immigration measures that are likely to prove beneficial to international students in the country, a fair percentage of whom are from India.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada department has outlined changes to the Express Entry programme, which enhance the process of granting permanent residency to highly skilled immigrants and students who graduate from Canadian institutions.
The changes has been implemented from November 18.
UK government offer scholarships to woo Indian students
The UK government is offering scholarships of one million pounds in 2017 to attract Indian students. Debanjan Chakrabarti, director of British Council East India, said the new 198 scholarships under the ‘Great’ campaign are in subject areas ranging from art and design to engineering, law and management, according to a report by PTI.
A total of 40 UK universities are participating in this programme.
