Issues Faced by International Students: The UK Architectural Experience
Written by Irvine Toroitich | Edited by Zubaydah Jibrilu
Gaining higher education as a student in the UK, there is a considerable university fee gap between EU and non-EU students. “Students from outside the EU will pay up to four times the fees charged to UK students next year suggests a survey.”[1]
This gap stretches beyond the realm of architecture and affects all international students. Studying my undergraduate in architecture, my fellow EU peers had their fees at a standard rate of approximately £9000 per year, where I, as a student from East Africa, paid £13,200 per year (excluding all living and VISA costs). As I progressed into my master’s education in another, better renowned University, the EU fees barely increased, but almost doubled for me, having to cough up £22,000 per year (excluding all living and VISA costs). In a 2013 BBC report, it is said that the University fees for international students is not regulated as it is for EU students, attributing to this massive difference in fees, essentially meaning that there is no incentive to reduce international fees as they do for EU students. The UK is a popular destination for students from all over the world to gain quality education. With increasing demand and a lack of regulation, UK universities can afford to charge higher prices, simple economics.
What does this mean for the Economy and student population of the UK?
As seen in the table above, the top 10 universities with the greatest number of Non-EU students (one of which I happened to have studied in) has a far greater international student population from outside the EU than from the EU (excluding UK). This accounts for a total of 20–30% of students within the Universities. This figure stands true for students in the Architecture, Building and Planning courses in Universities, where about 20% of the students are international, with an emphasis on non-EU countries.
University Support
The financial gain from having higher percentages of Non-EU students has therefore transpired to UK universities having agencies around the world to help them reach out to the non-EU market. This was exactly how I was sold the dream of the UK university life. I was sold on the quality of Architectural education in the UK, which I most certainly got, but I had hoped for the kind of support from the agency that helped me secure a position at the University. During my studies (both undergraduate and postgraduate), I have been shocked at how little my ‘support’ knew on what is required from Non-EU students to work and get a working VISA. In my numerous attempts to contact anyone from the career’s services, I have almost always been redirected to the general government immigration website to conduct my own research of what is required, and essentially providing myself with the ‘support’ I need.
This frustration and lack of assistance goes beyond the career’s services, and into the architecture course. A significant collection of career advice within the RIBA for UK nationals is available, but it barely scratches the surface of relevance for international students seeking to work within the UK. I quickly realised I couldn’t rely on the university to help me, and had to find my own research, and speak to a network of people who had faced the same issues.
Job Adverts
One of the more frustrating issues while looking for employment is seeing the refreshing statement on a job advert that the company employs equally- without discrimination towards race, gender or religion. In most of these cases, employers only look for UK/EU nationals with the ‘right to work’ in the UK, essentially saying that they will not consider the vast number of non-EU students from the same universities. The expensive work fees set by the by the government make it even more difficult to gain employment. Little incentive is provided for architecture companies to recruit non-EU students given the expensive fees on top of salary requirements.
To sponsor anyone for a Work visa (tier 2 VISA,) the job that is in offer must pay the employee a certain salary, otherwise they cannot obtain a VISA. This, for a graduate architecture student (Part 1) is about £22,000 and for a postgraduate (Part 2) is almost £25000 per year. These figures do not matter whether the work is in London or Edinburgh (with 2 vastly different living standards), the salary needed to be paid for the work permit is the same. This very issue is what cost me, and probably many others, a job successfully secured as a Part 1 graduate. Unfortunately, the company could not adhere to the home office salary requirements, and had to retract my offer.
The issues raised in the paragraphs above highlight the multiple roadblocks prospective students and employees face prior to gaining entry to architectural education and profession. Such issues emphasise how it is necessary to address the barriers towards ensuring that UK institutions and workplaces provide Non-EU nationals with the support and the necessary networks in ensuring that they too are given the equal opportunities they were sold. Who knows how many students and potential architects have been lost to the inefficiencies towards gaining entry into the architectural profession?
