UK Universities Discover 'Risky' Students Have Less Money
So-called 'unrestrained growth' in international student numbers is now being 'curbed,' with institutions like Teesside University pausing applications from certain regions due to 'risk.' What kind of risk, you ask? Well, it appears to be the risk of students not having sufficient funds, an issue rarely highlighted when discussing applications from, say, Qatar or Saudi Arabia, despite their
varying geopolitical standing. This isn't about fostering true global academic exchange; it’s about a profitable pipeline. For years, UK universities have relied heavily on international student fees to paper over budget holes, particularly after government funding cuts. Now, as the economic squeeze tightens, these 'risky' poorer students are the first to get the door shut in their faces. It's not
a 'risk assessment' when you primarily filter by financial capacity, it's a balance sheet consolidation. The UK promises opportunities, as long as you can pay the full, ever-inflating price. It leaves one to wonder: is higher education here a public good or just another market? (Spoiler alert: The market already decided.)