Rise in applications to UK universities from EU students post-Brexit vote
University applications from overseas students to UK universities have risen by 10% in 2018 — with 7,300 more being received this year, according to university admissions service UCAS.
Furthermore, there has been a huge 52% rise of applications from Mexico, which could be as a result of Donald Trump’s presidency in the United States.
Conversely, there have been 12,400 fewer applications from UK students.
University admissions officers said that in 2018, EU students were guaranteed a last chance to study in the UK on the same terms, as UK students for the duration of their degree by the Government.
Professor Anthony Smith, UCL’s Vice-Provost for Education and Student Affairs, told the Guardian: “This year’s applications reaffirm our status as a global university with one of the biggest multinational student bodies in the UK.
“They show that students from the EU and further abroad continue to want a first-class UK higher education, which bodes well for the future post-Brexit.”
According to YouGov polling data, 75% of 18–24-year-olds voted to remain in the European Union.
Megan Dunn, National Union of Students national president said: “The leave vote is clearly not the result that many young people wanted or voted for, but the most important thing now is to ensure that students and young people are involved in the decisions that have to be made that will shape their future.
“We have urgent questions about how the vote to leave will affect students, particularly EU students in the UK and UK students studying in the EU, and call on the Government to offer clear assurances.”
