Scotland Plans to Attract More Int'l Students & Encourage Their Stay After Graduation

Scotland has unveiled plans to expand its international student population and encourage the latter to stay after graduation.

The country aims to promote its leading university research and economic potential through the first International Education Strategy (IES), Erudera.com reports.

As part of this strategy, authorities aim to attract more international students and academic staff and offer them the right support to remain in Scotland and work in key industries.

In a recent statement, the Scottish government said the strategy also includes strengthening ties with the Scottish diaspora and alumni communities.

“International students and staff bring a diverse range of views, expertise, and knowledge. They widen access to international networks and infrastructure that drive our research competitiveness,” the statement reads.

It further said that efforts to create a Scottish Exchange Programme will continue, and a Talent Attraction and Migration Service will be launched later this year, providing guidance for students considering staying in the country after completing studies.

“Scotland already has more top universities per head of population than any other country in the world. This strategy sets out our collective aim to create the conditions for our universities and colleges to continue to flourish,” Higher and Further Education Minister Graeme Dey said while launching the strategy at Edinburgh Napier University.

The minister emphasized that the collaboration with universities and colleges to attract international students, staff, and researchers will continue in an attempt to enrich the diversity of its international student body.

He said some of the work includes maximizing the social and economic benefits of international higher education institutions while promoting Scotland as a top country for international research and knowledge exchange.

The number of international students choosing Scottish higher education institutions has especially increased since 2013. The government’s data indicate that more than 83,000 students from over 180 countries attended universities in Scotland in the 2022/23 academic year.

In other words, international students accounted for a quarter of the total student body that academic year.

A Universities UK International’s report on the contribution of international students to the UK’s economy found that students from abroad contributed a total of £4.75 billion to the Scottish economy in 2021/22. In 2022/23, this amount stood at £4.2 billion.

International students pay around £10,000 to £30,000 per year for undergraduate programs at Scottish universities.

© Bayo Adegunloye | Unsplash

Related:

>> Concerns Mount Over Scottish Universities Reliance on International Student Tuition Fees