UK national university places under threat from EU applicants

British applicants may have a harder time gaining a place at a UK university next year, with Vice-chancellors warning that the increase in the number of EU applicants along with new government legislation may result in the crowding out of qualified British nationals.

The rise in EU applications, together with a controversial government cap on additional places made available, and a rule preventing UK universities from discriminating against foreign nationals, further raises the bar for entry to UK universities in 2009. Numbers from UCAS show that applications from British candidates are up 8.8 per cent from last year, while the number of EU students wanting to study in the UK have increased by 16.4 per cent.

Michael Bates, Director of Recruitment and Admissions at Heriot-Watt University said: "Every university is now competing in a globalised world for the best qualified students. EU students coming to Heriot-Watt are highly qualified. To remain a leading university, we need to recruit the best, irrespective of their nationality.”.

With 43,367 more British nationals and 3,576 extra EU citizens chasing university places, the 10,000 additional spots offered by the government will not be enough. According to the Financial Times, this is only half the number of additional places offered last year.
Mr Bates continued: "The recruitment of EU students has been hugely beneficial for many STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematical) subjects. Historically there has been low demand for STEM subjects from UK school leavers and recruiting EU students to subjects such as engineering has made courses sustainable in recent years and has made a huge difference to the financial stability of HEI's (Higher Education Institutions).”

A higher number of UK 18 year-old's applying for university and the growing popularity of UK universities in the rest of the EU has fuelled rise in applications. It has been estimated that as many as 80,000 applicants will be unsuccessful this year. EU applicants count towards the same government quota for university students and are eligible for the same grants and loans to cover tuition fees and living costs.

University officials defended the more intangible positive contribution that EU students make to the academic and social life of the University. Mr Bates said: “Heriot-Watt University is proud of its high proportion of international students, the contribution they make to academic debate and the knowledge, perspective and experience they bring that benefits UK students.”