International graduates
It’s no surprise that employers are eager to hire candidates with international experience. Source: Shutterstock

Over 500,000 international students study in the UK every year, and things are looking peachy for Scotland, which saw a higher number of international students winning places at universities in the country, according to the latest figures.

The UK has long been a stronghold for higher education, with Universities UK International (UUKi) Director Vivienne Stern describing UK higher education as “a global success story” in a recent report, titled International Facts and Figures 2019.

Scotland is an attractive study abroad destination as it’s home to some of the world’s top universities, including the University of Glasgow. This makes it an appealing option for students keen on studying in the UK but who have yet to consider the country.

While the UK’s growth rate for international students has been “consistently low”, according to the report, dropping from 0.5 percent in 2015 to 0.3 percent in 2016, many international students still felt that their UK degree was worth the investment. 

UCAS notes that a record 2,330 students from outside the EU have confirmed places at Scottish universities – an increase of nine percent on last year’s Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) results day.

International students can’t get enough of Scottish universities. Source: Shutterstock

Recruitment drives may have helped attract international students

According to The Independent, experts say the weaker pound and an increased recruitment drive overseas may have led to the rise in international students, who pay more in tuition fees when choosing to study in Scotland.

UCAS also notes that the number of Scottish students who have been accepted onto a university course in Scotland has dropped by four percent compared to SQA results day 2018. They note that this comes alongside a 3.1 percent drop in the total number of 18 year olds in Scotland’s population. 

“As of 30 June 2019, there were 1,600 fewer applicants from Scotland, also a 3 percent fall compared to 2018. Of the 28,750 Scottish applicants accepted so far through UCAS, 27,880 will be studying in Scotland,” they said. 

Among the programmes that have seen an increase in Scottish student acceptance include nursing, which saw an increase of eight percent to 2,720. UCAS notes that the number of Scottish students accepted is expected to rise in the coming days as more places are made available through Clearing, following a year of considered offer-making by some universities in Scotland. 

“The number of EU students accepted has fallen by 5 per cent (160 students) to 3,150, consistent with applications to Scottish universities as of the 30 June deadline,” they note. 

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