Most international students think UK tuition fees offer good value for money

31 Oct 2017

Tuition fees in UK. — Graduates in London. Source: Shutterstock/Syda Productions.

University tuition fees are always a controversial subject, particularly when it comes to deciding where to study.

That is why QS Enrolment Solutions, a student recruitment and retention solutions company, looked at how international students really feel about United Kingdom university fees.

The research, published today, surveyed more than 1,000 current and prospective international students in the UK.

It found that 59 percent of international students who are either considering or currently studying at a UK university claim the fees are “good” or “very good” value for money.

In contrast, only 16 percent feel that UK tuition fees are “poor” or “very poor” value.

The research found European Union students consider UK fees considerably worse value than international students from other regions.

But it is not just the fees students are looking at. Prospective students want to know what they are actually receiving for their money. The research found five key features of a university which would persuade an international student a high tuition fee was worth it.

These features were:

“Better qualified staff”
“High graduate employment rates”
“High rankings”
“Better facilities”
“A gold TEF rating”

While the findings show a considerable number of current and prospective UK students are happy with the tuition fees, many students favoured Germany and Canada.

Students perceived both Germany and Canada as offering good or better value for money than the UK. This led researchers to conclude that the countries pose a “significant challenge to UK international student recruitment”.

UK uni applications down 4% & international 5% this year via @BBCRadio4 🎓😖 Students put off by rising tuition fees & Brexit

— Sally (@AZoom_of_1s_Own) July 13, 2017

The research also found mature international students tend to see the UK as better value for money than younger students. Those aged 26-30 favoured the UK more than the under 20s.

https://twitter.com/MirSana22/status/823340438920851460

International students in the UK make up 19 percent of those enrolled.