FOREIGN STUDENTS

A recent Daily Mail editorial, entitled: ‘Universities of Greed’, stated:

‘Top universities stand accused of shutting out record numbers of UK applicants to swell their coffers by accommodating more foreign students – who pay more than double fees. Vice-chancellors (who pocket telephone number salaries) have long argued that they are running global businesses rather than mere seats of learning.

However, they should realise they do not own their universities. They belong to the British people and are there principally to educate their children. After two years in which UK students paid top dollar for a profoundly substandard service, universities should be trying to make amends – not slamming the door on them.’

Meanwhile, Clare Marchant, head of UCAS, described the increase in foreign students as a ‘positive picture’ although she wanted more from countries other than China, saying: ‘There is a significant Chinese presence in that international market. But it might be good to see in five years’ time that it is more balanced with other parts of the world.’ She wanted more students from countries such as Nigeria, Ghana and Vietnam.

UCAS has forecast that the number of foreign students should increase from around 700,000 to 1 million by 2030. Some universities already have substantial numbers of foreign students. For example, University College London has 54.3 per cent, the London School of Economics has 54 per cent, and Imperial College London has 49.4 per cent.

British students pay up to £9,250 in university fees each year. Foreign students, whose fees are uncapped, pay an average of £24,000. Some pay more than £30,000. There are now concerns that the drive to increase the number of foreign students into UK universities is crowding out British students. Some universities want to have the £9,250 cap for British students abolished so that they can charge those students £24,000 annually.

It is Tory policy to increase the number of foreign students, as set out by Priti Patel in her ‘The UK’s Points-Based Immigration System: Further Details’ document, which states (italics my emphasis): ‘There will be no limit on the number of international students who can come to the UK to study, and we will seek to increase the number of international students in higher education … We also want to ensure that we retain the brightest and the best students to continue to contribute to the UK post-study, which is why we are launching the Graduate route in Summer 2021 to allow those who have completed a degree at a UK Higher Education Provider, that has a track record of compliance, to stay in the UK for two years (three years for PhD graduates) and work at any skill level, and to switch into work routes if they find a suitable job.’ (see here).

Where is the money coming from to fund this mass immigration of foreign students? The universities will not be paying for the housing, roads, schools, hospitals, trains, etc. They will pocket the extra fees without contributing one penny to the costs of the extra immigration. In fact, the bills incurred with either be dumped onto the British general public in the form of unpaid bills – hence increasing the housing shortages, hospitals being overwhelmed, congested roads and packed railways, for example – or else the government will draw upon the tax revenues that should be funding the welfare state and will further exploit the facilities of the welfare state. The universities pocket the extra profits and the British public will face the costs.

The impact of the housing shortage on the British public is set out here (page 288).

This is Ponzi economics and it is a fraud. This is globalisation in practice. The welfare state is supposed to be a safety net to provide for those in need, and was never intended to be a mechanism to support free-loading universities and businesses (in particular multinationals).

At the very least, the universities should be billed the cost of a house for all foreign students who do not return to their home countries after completing their courses. That would be a charge of around £300,000 per student.