Following some of the hottest topics discussed at The PIE Live, ApplyBoard, in partnership with London Higher, recently shared sector insights during a roundtable discussion with the leaders of London-based higher education institutions.
As the landscape for international students continues to evolve, ApplyBoard has elucidated some of the trends and challenges facing international student enrolment in the United Kingdom (UK) compared to other destinations, such as Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the US. We’ve also highlighted how our tools are helping partner institutions attract student enrolment, despite these challenges.
Read on for our insights on student enrolment statistics in the UK—and what UK’s institutions can do to attract students, even amid the sector’s unique roadblocks and challenges.
Sector Trends and Goals
After experiencing a rise in international student enrolment over the past five years, universities across the UK are currently facing a decline in student numbers.
ApplyBoard was able to run a comparative analysis on the top four destinations, over four topics: policy, process, place and price. With a sample of ten London universities, typically attracting nearly ten thousand applications for a January 2024 intake, there was a 30% drop in local demand for studying in London.
However, despite the contraction in overall demand, ApplyBoard was in fact able to grow enrolments during this time through improved conversion rates. Institutions working with ApplyBoard stand to benefit from this higher conversion rate.
This means that despite these challenges, the UK is still a top choice for international students. In ApplyBoard’s most recent Pulse Survey (February 2024), students were asked how interested they were in studying in different destination countries. In 2024, almost 60% of students said they would be “extremely” or “very” interested in studying in the UK, up from just 40% nine months before.
Read ApplyInsights for more perspectives on navigating international education challenges in the UK.
Strategies for Growth
To make sure students can seize educational opportunities in the UK, ApplyBoard is helping institutions develop proactive strategies to navigate the changing education landscape. These strategies include:
- Staying proactive in managing deferrals to avoid last-minute backlogs and maximize enrolment opportunities.
- Exploring partnerships for regional or exclusive cohorts to increase seats and fill them quickly, particularly for master’s courses.
- Implementing strategies to differentiate London and the UK as a destination for career-oriented programmes.
Read our interview with Wendy Alexander, ApplyBoard’s newest UK Advisory Board member.
Relaunching the Study London Campaign
The UK is culturally diverse, rich in history, culture, and art. Additionally, the UK offers flexible course options, highly respected degrees, and promising career prospects.
With so much potential available, London Higher is committed to improving the student experience in the UK. To achieve this, they’re relaunching the Study London campaign in June 2024 to encourage students to consider London as a study abroad destination. They plan to implement a multi-channel approach exploring life in the capital and clear up any misconceptions about the UK.
Their goal is to ultimately restore confidence in London as a safe and inclusive city, highlighting the true cultural diversity of both London and the UK.
We cannot voice our support for this mission more enthusiastically, and we’re thrilled to work closely alongside our colleagues at London Higher to achieve this mission. For our part, ApplyBoard will continue to simplify and streamline the process for international students to research, apply, and enrol in London’s many excellent universities and higher education institutions.
Even among the ever-evolving changes taking place in the international education sector, ApplyBoard is proud to encourage global education, and continues to work toward successful student enrolment.
Are you ready to embark upon your own UK study journey? Rely on the ApplyBoard platform, and choose from thousands of courses to support your study abroad journey.
