Concern over decline in number of Indian students at British universities

**There has been growing concerns that the number of Indian students in British universities is dwindling in the wake of the latest university figures.**

Departments which host Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects have seen the biggest drop, with universities reporting a decline of 20 to 30 percent in Indian students in this academic year.

The figures are a cause for concern for most universities, who rely on a healthy number of international students for funding and the financial viability of these courses.

Evidence presented to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee from senior figures in higher education and industry highlighted concerns among vice-chancellors about the impact of less Indian students on the financial viability of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths courses.

One possible reason for the declining numbers is the government’s decision to include international students in net immigration figures, which has made it harder for students to obtain visas.

However the decline has not had much of an effect on Warwick. The international press officer for the University, Anna Blackaby, commented: “The University of Warwick has seen an increase in Indian undergraduate students over the past year, up 7 per cent.”

Moreover an enquiry by the _Boar_ revealed that Maths department had only seen a minimal decline. In the academic year 2010/11 Indian students made up 0.33 percent of the student cohort, 0.42 percent in 2011/12 and 0.27 percent this academic year.

The figures only display a drop of 0.15 percent from the previous year. Significantly, the figures also show that Indian students form a very small part of the University’s Maths department, suggesting that a decline in numbers would not have a serious effect on Warwick.

The committee published a report last month on ‘Overseas Students and Net Migration’ recommending that Indian and other non-EU students be removed from overall immigration figures, owing to the fact that most return home after their courses. However the government rejected the suggestion.

Nevertheless Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK (which represents universities and colleges higher education institutions) voiced vice-chancellors’ concerns about the impact of less Indian students on particular subjects to the committee.
She said: “It is apparent now, because of the reduction of Indian students — students coming from the Indian subcontinent to study Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths subjects — that is where there are already questions being asked about the sustainability of certain subjects”.

Ms Blackaby was unwilling to discuss the general UK trend. She said: “As we can only comment on Warwick matters, we can’t comment on the motivation of Indian students in general.”