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FOREIGN STUDENTS NEW TARGET FOR FUNDING CUTS

One in seven students are facing further financial hardship in coming academic years as the government has announced as series of cuts to scholarship schemes for foreign undergraduates to allow more money to be spent on tackling climate change. Foreign Secretary David Miliband has announced a slash of over £10m a year in two scholarships which are crucial in attracting foreign students to study in the UK. The written statement from the Foreign Secretary revealed that not only will the Chevening Scholarship be cut from £27.3m to jus £18.86m but that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s contributions towards the Commonwealth scheme will be scrapped.

The committee of Vice Chancellors, known as Universities UK say this move will not only deter foreign students but will have impacts on UK students wishing to study abroad. Interestingly the government have been keen to justify the cuts by stating how the savings will support new “priority programmes” with climate change flagged up as the neediest cause. Universities UK insist that attracting foreign students is essential as many go on to become leaders in their field and they remain adamant that despite the schemes being imperfect the government is making a big mistake. However the foreign office insists its scholarships shall still be able to support students from “from a wide range of backgrounds”.

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