British universities are struggling to overcome a double blow caused by the Covid-19 pandemic after a record number of deferrals in 2020 and a sharp drop in 2021 applications from international students.
Universities UK International told The National that international undergraduate deferrals almost doubled in 2020, to 5,690 from 3,275, and latest figures show that 2021 deferrals were up 29 per cent from 2019, to 4,230.
Almost 37,000 students, from the UK and overseas combined, deferred their places in the UK last year – the highest figure in a decade and a 17 per cent increase to 36,790 from 30,325 in 2019 - according to the latest figures from UCAS, the admissions service.
The number that successfully applied from abroad to study in the UK in 2021 fell by 8 per cent from 2019, to 70,055 from 76,905, as the number of EU students almost halved from 31,765 to 16,025.
The total number of international applications received by the October 2021 deadline for people wanting to commence study in the UK in autumn this year was 21,820, compared with 22,730 the previous year, a further drop of 4 per cent.
UCAS said many who deferred in 2020 came to the UK in September 2021 to commence their studies, providing some relief for the sector.
With the Omicron variant raging across the globe, universities are once again bracing themselves for more Covid upheaval, with record numbers of students deferring places.
Many institutions internationally have started 2022 with some remote learning in a bid to ride the latest pandemic wave, but despite efforts to return to a form of normality some are still facing spiralling financial black holes.
In Britain, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said UK universities are facing up to £19 billion ($25.8bn) in long-term losses from Covid-related trends.
A report last year by London Economics, commissioned by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) think tank, revealed that in 2018/19 the gross benefit from international students to the UK economy was £28.8bn, with fee revenue of £15bn.
The IFS believes higher-ranking institutes will be hardest hit by the loss of income.
“The total size of the university sector’s losses from the Covid-19 pandemic is highly uncertain: we estimate that long-run losses could come in anywhere between £3 billion and £19 billion, or between 7.5 per cent and nearly half of the sector’s overall income in one year,” the IFS said.
“Our central estimate of the total long-run losses for the university sector is £11 billion, or more than a quarter of income in one year.
“More than half of these losses come from a combination of falls in international student enrolments this year and an increase in balance sheet provisions relating to pension deficits.
“Large sector-level losses mask substantial differences between institutions. In general, institutions with a large share of international students and those with substantial pension obligations will face the biggest falls in income or increases in costs. These tend to be higher-ranking universities, postgraduate-only institutions or prestigious arts schools.”
Some of Britain’s top Russell Group universities were forced to offer candidates financial incentives to defer their places as spaces on courses ran out.
Exeter and Bristol offered generous incentives to students on some oversubscribed courses who agreed to defer — including, in some cases, up to £10,000 and free accommodation in their first year.
Durham offered some prospective students £5,000 to defer their studies until this year.
“The pandemic has created challenges around the world so it is a testament to the quality and reputation of the UK university sector that international student numbers have remained competitive, with a rise in applicants placed from non-EU countries,” a Russell Group representative told The National.
“Our universities are working hard to provide a range of support to students, including those from overseas, to help them continue to thrive in their studies.”
UK saw record numbers of student deferrals in 2021
The latest figures released by UCAS show 21,820 international students had applied for 2022 study by the October 2021 deadline, compared with 22,730 in 2021.
“Universities recognise the disruption students have faced due to the pandemic and admissions teams will continue to ensure admissions processes are fair and transparent,” a representative for Universities UK told The National.
The number of UAE students rose to 1,465 in 2021 from 1,255 in 2019. In a two-year time frame the numbers of successful applicants from Saudi Arabia and Oman were also higher.
The UK is hoping to attract more international students with the launch last summer of its Graduate Route.
It will allow eligible students to stay in the UK to work, or look for work, for two years (three years if studying at PhD level) after they have completed their degree.
UCAS has also launched its free Myriad app for international students exploring postgraduate opportunities in the UK.
While interest from abroad can be expected to help the sector's recovery, the Covid-19 fallout is such that the IFS still fears some universities may face insolvency.
“With around £45 billion in reserves and an annual surplus of around £2 billion before the crisis, the university sector as a whole should be able to cope with substantial Covid-related losses,” Ben Waltmann, a Research Economist at IFS, said.
“However, some universities were already in a weak financial position before the crisis hit. For around a dozen of these institutions, insolvency is likely to become a very real prospect without a government bailout.”
Top 10 UK places international students are worth the most to the local economy per year
- Sheffield Central — £290m
- Nottingham South — £261m
- Holborn and St Pancras — £243m
- Newcastle upon Tyne East — £240m
- East Ham — £217m
- Cambridge — £214m
- West Ham — £212m
- Manchester Central — £211m
- Oxford East — £211m
- Liverpool, Riverside — £203m
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
Sleep Well Beast
The National
4AD
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
WRESTLING HIGHLIGHTS
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
AUSTRALIA%20SQUAD
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Company%20profile
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UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
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The Gandhi Murder
- 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
- 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
- 7 - million dollars, the film's budget
Revival
Eminem
Interscope
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden | US$45,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres
Winner: Tabarak, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap | $175,000 (Turf) | 3,200m
Winner: Dubhe, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Estihdaaf, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
8.15pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Nordic Lights, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 | $450,000 (D) | 1,900m
Winner: North America, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm: Handicap | $175,000 (T) | 1,200m
Winner: Mazzini, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
10pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,400m.
Winner: Mubtasim, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Itcan profile
Founders: Mansour Althani and Abdullah Althani
Based: Business Bay, with offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India
Sector: Technology, digital marketing and e-commerce
Size: 70 employees
Revenue: On track to make Dh100 million in revenue this year since its 2015 launch
Funding: Self-funded to date
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
New schools in Dubai
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
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Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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3.
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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