UK government to limit English students attending Universities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Ministers are “shocked and concerned” at the move.

UK government to limit the amount of English students that can attend Universities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Ministers in the devolved administrations have reacted angrily to a decision by the UK Government to limit the number of students from England they can recruit to their universities.

The temporary cap is designed to prevent over-recruitment by higher education institutions to make up for lost revenue caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

But ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are furious at what they say is a bid by the UK Government to control a matter beyond its jurisdiction.

The measures, outlined by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson in early May, would see intake capped for each institution's 2019/20 totals plus 6.5%.

Guidance published on Monday revealed that a limit has also been imposed on institutions in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland recruiting what the UK Government deems to be more than their "fair share" of England-domiciled students.

Students from England pay the most in undergraduate tuition at £9,250 per year, while Welsh students pay £9,000 if they study in Wales and Northern Irish students pay £4,275 if they stay at home.

Scotland does not charge its home students at undergraduate level, but can charge applicants from the remaining three UK countries up to £9,250.

Institutions in the devolved administrations that exceed their quota of students from England will see a reduction in loan receipts from the Student Loans Company of between 3% and 15% in the following academic year.

Northern Ireland's Economy Minister Diane Dodds said: "I am shocked and concerned that another jurisdiction is seeking to control student numbers here in Northern Ireland and the impact that this may have on our local sector.

"I believe that this proposal has the potential to break up the unified higher education market within the United Kingdom in terms of access to study based on student choice and academic achievement - it is a dangerous precedent to set and one I am wholly opposed to."

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