Students Respond to Lord Browne's Proposals

Further to the publication of Lord Browne's report last week, there has been a lot of reflection on how this will impact upon future students' higher education choices. We have deliberately kept a low profile on this matter for the time being because the implications are far wider than increasing the likelihood of Brits going abroad.

The Student Room website has just published a survey of 1300 students (it is unclear how many of these students are still to enter university) and their assessment of Lord Browne's recommendations. While it is clear that the Lib Dems won't be winning many friends amongst the young, there are some other results which corroborate what we have been hearing from other sources.

73% of all students will look abroad when thinking about their higher education choices. Admittedly, for many English students abroad seems to mean Scotland but there are signs that a wide range of countries from USA to Netherlands could be about to benefit from increasing applications from British students.

We will see whether this materialises. However, it is clearer than ever that schools must offer advice about international higher education as one of the range of options open to their students.

Is this the best careers advice we can give British students?

On Wednesday this week Mary Curnock Cook, the Chief Executive of UCAS confirmed that as many as 50,000 students with good A’ level grades will miss out on places at UK universities this year. This is the first acknowledgement that it is the “better” students who are likely to be unsuccessful in their application or disappointed in the type of university that will accept them.

The only advice offered by UCAS is to defer entry for at least one year before reapplying, or think about going to university later in life. Aside from the fact that the UK job market makes it almost impossible to enter many professions without a degree, does asking students to wait until universities are ‘ready’ for them qualify as sensible careers advice?

While this will undoubtedly prove a boon to the GAP year industry it is unlikely to assist students who are increasingly conscious of the financial impact of higher education or the difficulty of finding employment as a young person in today’s economy.

For many students there is another option: going to university abroad. Many high quality universities around the world are ready and able to accept applications from British students. While there is still likely to be a high level of competition for places at the best international universities, many students will find that they are able to get on with their life plans without an unintended and unwished-for hiatus.

British universities are not the only route open to British students. There are plenty of alternatives in countries as nearby as France, Ireland and the Netherlands or further afield in USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

A Star Future has been advising schools and students about such opportunities since 2006 and we anticipate a busy few months.

Why will British Students Go Abroad?

We have more or less completed the first round of presentations in 2009-2010. As part of the presentation we aim to give potential students some of the key reasons they should think about gaining international experience. Below we list some of the key reasons why we think students should go abroad. These are worded exactly how we communicate them to our audience of 16-17 year olds and we have only listed those which appear to resonate most strongly with this audience.

1. Compete in the Global Job Market: If you are planning on a career in international business. Employers are increasingly looking for mature, culturally aware graduate recruits.

2. Broaden Your Horizons: Living in another country will help see things from a different perspective. It will introduce you to new experiences and new people. Experiencing life in a different country is not something you can learn by reading about it or seeing it on TV. Countries which we perceive as being similar to the UK can also present their own cultural challenges.

3. Meet People From Many Different Countries: Students from other similar European countries are twice as likely to study abroad as British students. Many of them come to this country for part or all of their education. This opportunity is there for you if you want to take advantage of it.

4. Student Debt Will Shape Your Life: Wherever you study you are likely to be going in to debt to pay for it. This will inevitably have an impact on your life after you leave university. The level of debt is not, in itself, the most important consideration; how long it will take to pay it off is. Studying abroad can help you in two ways:
• it may improve your earning potential,
• it may be cheaper for you.

For more information on how to reach British students with international higher education opportunities please contact us.