Five years after Brexit, UK universities are experiencing a fundamental transformation in their student population and research capabilities, with European student numbers falling to their lowest level since 2008, a Times Higher Education study reveals.
European postgraduate students represented just 6% of the total student population in 2022-23, down from 20% in 2018-19, while enrolment from China, India, and Nigeria has increased tenfold, according to Higher Education Statistics Agency data.
“Britain is now seen as a less welcoming place by many Europeans”, says Anand Menon, professor at King’s College London and head of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, citing implications for universities’ international standing.
Research funding has also declined sharply. The Russell Group’s 18 institutions received £278 million in EU research grants in 2023-24, compared to £405 million in 2019-20, marking a 31% decrease.
The academic staff composition has shifted significantly, with European academics now comprising 15% of university staff, down from 18% in 2018-19. The number of non-EU international academics has doubled over the past decade.
“We’re closing the tap on a significant pool of high-quality academic talent,” says Ben Sheldon, Oxford University’s professor of ecology, noting that tripled tuition fees have severely impacted European student recruitment.
Despite these challenges, Britain remains the EU’s second most important scientific partner, maintaining an 8% share in academic publications.
Research collaboration levels have remained stable, with joint publications expected to reach 30% by the end of 2024.
(Vasiliki Chrysostomidou/protothema.gr)
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