The percentage of international students enrolled at the University of Glasgow has fallen to 42%, compared to Scottish and rUK students who represent 58%. This is the lowest percentage of international students enrolled at the University since 2020.
The data for the 2023-24 academic year also shows an incredible 4.7% decrease in international students compared to the previous 2022-23 academic year.
Although headcount by domicile of the current session is not due to be published by the University until 1 May 2026, the percentage of international students is expected to continue declining.
In May, the UK Government outlined plans to control immigration into the country in a White Paper, which included changes for international students. These include student sponsors facing stricter compliance requirements, mandatory compliance with Agent Quality Framework for universities, and new English language requirements.
If any of these proposed changes become law, international students entering the country will almost certainly fall.
The fall in international admissions at the University follows a UK Visas and Immigration Audit in the summer of 2024, resulting in the Home Office threatening to revoke the University’s licence to enroll foreign students at the end of last year.
The University was given specific issues to fix, specifically focusing on accurate record keeping and data collection, reporting, and analysis. Hillhead Review understands that these issues have been amended.
In December, the University of Glasgow told Hillhead Review they were “confident” that the necessary changes would be implemented. However, emails seen by Hillhead Review showed the University telling its staff that “recruitment of internationals will continue as normal”, before “necessary tasks” had been completed.
The fall in international students is likely to create further pressure for the already-stretched University sector. Although the University of Glasgow has avoided redundancies following cuts to the higher education budget, many Scottish institutions including the University of Dundee and University of Edinburgh have been forced to lay-off staff.
In 2023, outgoing Principal of the University, Anton Muscatelli, denied that Glasgow was over-reliant on foreign students. This statement came following two academic years of the highest number of international students studying at the University in its 573 year history.
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