By: Amy O’Donoghue
New research by agency Jisc has found that UK universities educate more national leaders than any other country, prompting discussion on the international character of the UK’s higher education institutions. Whilst this prolific achievement can be seen as a source of national pride, there are also concerns about universities’ reliance on international students for funding contributing to financial instability.
Of all UK universities, LSE educated the second most heads of states/governments since 1990 with 24, following University of Oxford that came in first place with 36. With the highest proportion of international students in the UK (65% of students were international in the 2022/23 cohort), LSE clearly has a significant global presence. Alumni include Ursula von de Leyen (President of the European Commission), Juan Manuel Santos (former President of Colombia) and Alexander Stubb (current President of Finland).
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of organisation Universities UK, described the number of world leaders being produced as a testament to what a “national asset” UK universities are, bringing numerous “soft-power benefits” to the UK on the global stage.
However, some have taken a more negative view on the increasingly international nature of the UK’s university system. Financial issues have been rife in recent years. With a £3.4 billion drop forecast and 72% of higher education providers expected to be in deficit in 2025-26, there has been much discussion of what universities could do to reduce their financial instability.
Over-reliance on international fees is often highlighted during these debates. A 2024 government inquiry into reliance on international students for funding was concerned about whether this funding model was sustainable. Dependence on these students means universities are vulnerable to fluctuations outside of their control; for example, a 16% fall in the number of study visas issued from 2023-24 had a notable effect on funding.
Nick Hillman, director of Higher Education Policy Institute, stated that “we will struggle to claim the UK still has a world-class higher education system if over 100 institutions come to have less than 30 days liquidity.” Attempts have been made to rectify this situation, such as the recent government decision to introduce a 3% rise in tuition fees for home students.
LSESU’s International Student Officer said:
”International students bring immense cultural and intellectual value to UK universities, but the extortionate fees they are charged are increasingly unjustifiable when you consider the lack of job prospects and post-study support from the UK government compared to countries such as Canada. If even top graduates from institutions like LSE or UCL are struggling to secure employment, it raises the question of why students should pay such high fees only to face limited opportunities and be forced to leave.”
