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IN BRIEF
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For several years now, crossing the Channel with a backpack full of academic dreams is no longer a smooth journey. Far from the Erasmus adventures of yesteryear, the path for international students to the United Kingdom now resembles an obstacle course. With rising tuition fees, mounting paperwork, and the consequences of Brexit, the legendary English campus has turned into a hard-to-access bastion, relegating the country far behind its European neighbors in the hearts of young globetrotters.
Since Brexit, studying in the United Kingdom has become considerably more complicated for international students. Administrative formalities are heavier, university fees have skyrocketed, and the famous Erasmus program is no longer available. The result: fewer and fewer foreign students are crossing the Channel to join Oxford or Cambridge, now preferring other European destinations. Here’s an overview of the new reality, significantly less glamorous, of student life in the land of Shakespeare.
Brexit: the start of a new era… and new obstacles
January 31, 2020, will be etched in history as the fateful date when the United Kingdom officially turned its back on the European Union. Since that day, the doors of British universities have slowly but surely closed on European students. Where once a simple European passport sufficed, an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is now required, a new formality that has discouraged many. But this is just the beginning of the administrative joys. Now, every student wishing to settle in London or Edinburgh must navigate a sea of paperwork, amid endless delays and additional costs.
End of Erasmus: the door closes on facilitation
It’s impossible to address the subject without mentioning the famous Erasmus program, the true Grail for young people wanting to study abroad without breaking the bank. Unfortunately, the United Kingdom is no longer part of it… Thus forgotten are the tuition fees at local rates and the removal of administrative barriers. Now, to enroll in an English university, one must anticipate an astronomical budget. Even the legendary British scholarships have taken their bow, leaving European students in front of a nearly impassable financial wall.
Surge in tuition fees and decline of European students
A direct consequence of these changes: a collapse in the number of European students in the United Kingdom. We are talking about a drop of nearly 40% since Brexit, especially among French students – once the kings of the Erasmus ball, now condemned to nostalgia. The figures speak for themselves: there were between 12,000 and 13,000 French students per year before the exit from the EU, compared to barely 1,600 today. Oxford, Cambridge, and their British cousins no longer attract as much, and it is the universities in Ireland, Spain, or Northern Europe that are now reaping the rewards.
When young people prefer new destinations
European youth, however, is not lacking in resources or thirst for adventure. Deprived of the United Kingdom, students are turning to new horizons. The Erasmus program, far from losing its appeal, boosts the popularity of Spain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Ireland. These countries still offer the chance to take courses in English, in a multicultural environment and at lower costs. The enthusiasm is such that the United Kingdom has literally disappeared from the Top 5 of student destinations. Even Scandinavian universities, known for their demanding standards, are now attracting students with their English-speaking programs accessible to foreigners.
Difficulties that go beyond the university doorstep
Beyond costs and visas, wanting to settle in the United Kingdom is no longer a child’s play, whether one is a student or not. The country is increasingly adopting restrictive measures, reminiscent of the United States, which is also tightening its access conditions for international travelers, as you can read here or there. At a time when the traveler status is becoming a rare commodity, it is better to know all the new rules of the game before packing a suitcase for the Perfide Albion.
Prices are rising, desires are migrating
If your dream was to toast to success in one of Oxford’s legendary pubs or to change the world in a corner of a Cambridge library, you will now have to pay the price… or change your dream. With exploding tuition fees, foreign students now prefer to invest in more accessible destinations, where they can enjoy the sun (hello Spain!) or the Flemish atmosphere without sacrificing all their savings. This trend goes hand in hand with new tax requirements, as is possible to discover about the eco tax on plane tickets, which could also convince young people to stay on the continent.
Changes that raise questions about the future
In the face of this reality, the question remains: will the United Kingdom be able to regain its prime position among the preferred destinations for international students? For now, the observation is clear, and the statistics speak for themselves. The face of European student mobility has changed drastically in the last four years, leading many to wonder if Great Britain has not just crossed out a part of its international attractiveness. While students soar towards other latitudes, British universities now must cope with lecture halls emptier than usual.
For more information on international mobility or other topics related to travel and expatriation, feel free to consult the articles on Swiss destinations here or on travel restrictions in Minnesota in 2025 there.
