The British Council, as the official representative of British education, shares the results of its annual survey on EU students’ perceptions in the post-pandemic context.
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Delivered by Kubi Kallo among 1,700 16–34-year-olds from six EU countries, the survey analyses students' barriers and triggers to study abroad, among other issues.
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Among the barriers to studying in the UK, respondents point to entry requirements, costs of accommodation and daily living, and ease of getting a visa.
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To address these concerns, the British Council offers free information, advice and webinars through its higher education portal, Study UK.
In the academic year 2021-22, 120,140 EU students chose the United Kingdom as a destination for university studies, making the region the world’s second largest source of students (only behind Asia), according to data provided by the British university statistics agency HESA. The British Council, as the official representative of British higher education, shares the results of its annual survey among 1,700 EU students from France, Germany, Poland, Greece, Italy and Spain, aged 16-34, who are considering studying in English at universities or higher education institutions abroad (in particular in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the United Kingdom), in the next three years.
The survey, delivered by Kubi Kallo since 2022, analyses the change in EU students' perceptions in the post-pandemic context, among other issues. Thus, 35 per cent of EU students surveyed identified the United Kingdom as their first-choice study abroad destination, an increased figure compared to last year's (29 per cent) and which places this country in first place of preferred destinations. The United States ranks second and Canada third, according to the survey.
The study also addresses the main barriers and triggers for students to undertaking international studies. Among the incentives for studying in the UK, respondents pointed to the high quality of teaching and academic research, the wide range of courses on offer (tailored to the students’ interests) and the value for money of studying in the country, in terms of employability and career progress.
On the barriers side, students pointed to entry requirements, costs of accommodation and daily living and ease of getting a visa. To address these concerns, the British Council offers free answers and information on its Study UK portal:
- Entry requirements: This page provides a step-by-step description of how to apply to a UK university and a comprehensive guide to help students choose the course that best suits their demands and tastes.
- Costs: This page contains information on undergraduate and postgraduate course fees, as well as a scholarships search engine with over 3,000 grants and discounts for students from all over the world.
- Visas: This page includes information on how to obtain a student visa through the Student Route, for courses lasting more than six months. It also clarifies the other types of visas that are available and ways to stay and work in the UK once you have finished your studies.
- Free webinars: The British Council offers a programme of live online information sessions for students, counsellors and educators. The webinars are designed specifically around the needs of EU, European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss students.
In addition to these resources, the British Council and Newcastle University have launched a free online course (MOOC) to help international students look after their emotional wellbeing and deal with the potential pressures and stresses that can arise from study abroad placements.