Over One-Third of EU Students Put Off Studying in UK Because of Brexit

Nearly 40 percent of EU students have said they’re put off studying in the UK because of Brexit.

39 percent of respondents from the EU in this year’s International Student Survey said they found the UK a less appealing study destination because of the decision to leave the EU.

Brexit has also affected how students from outside the EU perceive the UK, with 10 percent of non-EU students also saying that they’d be put off studying in the UK.

This revelation comes hot on the heels of London being announced as the best city in the world for students, according to the QS Best Student Cities 2018 ranking. The UK capital has attempted to downplay concerns about Brexit, with the mayor’s office launching the #LondonIsOpen campaign to reassure international visitors to the city that they would be welcomed.

London mayor Sadiq Khan echoed this in his response to news of London’s performance in the cities ranking: "I’m saying loud and clear to the world that London is open as the best place to study, do business and innovate, and a city where all Londoners can take advantage of these opportunities."

Welcoming campaigns such as this have been shown to have an impact, with 82 percent of all survey respondents saying that #LondonIsOpen and the similarly-themed #WeAreInternational had persuaded them that the UK is welcoming.

Patrick Whitfield, Director of UK & Europe at QS Enrolment Solutions, said: “Now is the time for the UK government to work together with universities and other stakeholders to do more to promote one of the UK’s greatest exports.

“We believe that UK universities and sector stakeholders must continue to support welcoming campaigns that champion the UK as a study destination for international students.”

The International Student Survey, published by QS Enrolment Solutions, is the largest student survey of its kind, with over 67,000 prospective students from around the world asked to share their thoughts and opinions. To read the report on this year’s survey, click here.