Universities blame Brexit for fall in foreign students

THE number of students coming to the UK from the European Union has fallen for the first time in five years, as universities say Brexit is putting them off.

Figures published by Ucas, the university admissions service, show that EU applicants dropped by 4.4 per cent to 51,185, around 2,375 applicants fewer than in 2016, reversing a trend of yearon-year rises since 2012.

The number of students from the EU whose applications were accepted also fell by 2.1 per cent this year.

Applications from UK students also went down, for the second year running, with 3.1 per cent fewer applying to start courses this autumn. And there were 2,535 fewer acceptances.

Fees in England climbed to £9,250 this year, and the interest charges on student loans have risen from 4.6 per cent to 6.1 per cent.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, the vice-chancellors’ group. said: “The small fall in EU students suggests Brexit is starting to deter EU students.”

Jo Johnson, the universities minister, said: “A key part of the success of British universities is attracting talent from across the globe. EU students make an important contribution and we want that to continue.”