Head teachers: Include foreign universities on Ucas application system because more students want to study abroad

Thousands of British undergraduates make for the US, as lower tuition fees in some countries prove attractive

75 per cent thought Ucas should include details of overseas courses (Getty Images)

Head teachers believe that foreign universities should be included on the Ucas applications system, because more and more of their students want to study abroad.

A survey of members of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference – which represents 270 of the UK’s leading fee-paying schools – revealed that 75 per cent of them thought Ucas should include details of overseas courses.

The survey also showed a marked increase in the number of pupils wanting to consider studying abroad – 50 per cent compared with 35 per cent a year ago. However, 41 per cent of the heads believed the greatest barrier to studying abroad was a lack of information about courses – hence the plea to Ucas to furnish students with the details.

According to the British Council, the number of UK university students who went abroad to study reached 28,640 last year, compared with 18,101 in 2012-13.

Figures for the United States show an 8 per cent rise in UK students studying there in 2013-14 compared with the previous year – the biggest rise for a decade. In all, that brings the total of British students studying in America to 10,191.

At Maastricht University, which conducted the survey, the number of UK students enrolled has gone up by 150 per cent over the past three years and has now reached more than 400.

The university is holding an open day on 20 February 2016, in an attempt to entice students who have already obtained a degree in the UK to study for a masters’ there.

When headteachers were asked if they felt that their pupils should weigh up the opportunities to study abroad before reaching a decision, 95 per cent of heads replied “Yes”.

They argued that the best opportunities for students were at US universities or those in the Netherlands, Canada or Australia.

Twenty per cent thought lower tuition fees would be one of the main benefits to studying abroad. Students in the UK now face paying up to £9,000 a year for their courses.

However, they argued that the greatest benefit was broadening the students’ horizons. This was cited by 44 per cent; in third place was improving career prospects – cited by 15 per cent of respondents.

Chris King, chairman of HMC and headmaster of Leicester Grammar School, said: “Our schools continue to become more international in outlook and this survey underscores that.

“If there has been a shift in recent years, it is away from only recommending the traditional year abroad as part of a UK-based degree course.

“Instead, heads are emphasising the benefit of enrolling for a complete degree programme abroad, either at undergraduate or masters’ level.”

A spokeswoman for Ucas said the university admissions service was “aware that increasing numbers of UK students are interested in exploring the options for studying at a university outside of the UK”.

She added: “Ucas’s services are already open to European higher education providers, and we carry information about study abroad opportunities at Ucas.com.

“Ucas is a key information provider for potential students and we are currently considering whether more information should be provided about studying outside the UK.”