UK Universities: Enrolment During Covid-19

By Ms. Lucy Watkins, British Council Acting Regional Director East Asia and Mr. Leighton Ernsberger, British Council Director Education and English East Asia. This article was originally published in the February 2021 edition of Orient Magazine (Issue 80). 


Choosing to pursue an education overseas is a significant milestone, for any young person and their family. It is an opportunity that brings with it the guarantee of new experiences and the expanding of horizons –geographic, social and cultural – but it can also be a very nerve-wracking time, even for the most confident of students and their parents. This is true of any ‘normal’ year but against 2021’s backdrop of lockdowns, sustained education disruption, and global travel restrictions, making the decision to learn and study in the UK is more daunting and complex than ever before.

Although the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many to question whether it is the right time to choose to study in the UK, pressing pause on long-anticipated and hard-earned study plans – be they undergraduate or postgraduate – also feels uncomfortable. As Mr. Leighton Ernsberger, the British Council Director for Education and English in East Asia, explains: “Although the last year has been very unsettling, it’s important that students don’t put their futures on hold; delaying or re-imagining study plans, sometimes years in the making. Now, more than ever, is the time to continue to hope, and grow, and to take careful steps towards achieving your goals.”

However, if you’re considering your child’s – or your own - tertiary study options in the UK, it is important to understand what universities are doing to support students, both abroad and on-campus.

Universities across the UK have been working closely with the UK government since the beginning of the pandemic. Across 2020 and into the Autumn term, many UK universities blended in-person teaching with new online technologies and tools, and this focus on remote access and support has continued into 2021, with UK universities working tirelessly to innovate and implement diverse COVID-19 services – both practical and emotional - that students can access irrespective of their location. From new platforms designed to help students meet and make friends, and stay active and engaged safely, to airport pick-ups, support through self-isolation periods, food packages and mental health initiatives, these measures aim to offer help to all students, including those self-isolating, or unable to travel to the UK just yet. UK universities have also worked to make sure that entry processes are flexible and supportive of international students choosing to begin their studies from overseas; including that they remain eligible for student visas.

Although the disruption remains today, universities’ considered and rigorous COVID-19 safety measures, coupled with thoughtful and empathetic student support initiatives, continue to go above and beyond to ensure that both local and international students’ physical health and mental wellbeing remains their top priority.

Regardless of the new learning formats being implemented to support this year’s students, the quality of the UK’s institutions – and academics – is renowned. A world-class multicultural education hub, the UK’s universities are ranked among the top around the world. According to The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020, three of the top 10 universities — the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Imperial College London — are in the UK, and 26 of its other institutions are among the world’s 200 best for learning.

The UK is one of the most popular study destinations in the world and, according to early data released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, more than 6,820 Singaporean students (excluding exchange and visiting scholars) chose to study in the UK in the 2019/20 academic year. This indicates that the number of students studying full time courses in the UK appears to have remained steady from 18/19 to 19/20. Although COVID-19 has no doubt had an impact, the provision of new UK offerings – including the Graduate Route, which will enable international students who have studied in the UK to apply for a visa to remain for between two and three years post-study in order to look for work – have also helped to support the sector.

Over the decades, thousands of graduates around the world have benefited from a British education, equipping them with in-demand skills in a competitive economic landscape. In fact, 83 per cent of international graduates surveyed by Universities UK International (UUKi) last year said their degree helped them get their job, and close to seven in 10 respondents said they progressed more quickly in their careers than peers educated elsewhere.

Among other disciplines, the UK is a world leader in technological innovation, and the location of many multinational company headquarters. UK universities and institutions maintain strong links with this industry and this ensures that the UK’s learning approaches are industry-led. As a result, students benefit from practical work and courses that are inherently aligned with current industry practices and demands, as well as rich opportunities to undertake internships and placements – helping students to gain real, applicable experience.

Ms. Lucy Watkins, British Council Acting Regional Director East Asia, reflects, and has a message for prospective students:

“With a global reputation for research and academic excellence, the UK is a wonderful place for students to discover their talents and see them flourish, to cultivate and sharpen their skills, and be ready for a world that needs them.

Preparations continue to welcome students and staff back to campus, and UK institutions remains excited to open their doors to a new cohort of young, enthusiastic and innovative global minds. I hope you’ll be among them.”


Find out more

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