David Willets said he was not surprised to know that thousands more students have applied to get their university place this autumn. The figures revealed by Ucas were predictable: some students try to avoid the increased tuition fees from 2012 while others apply to start university as they have been dismissed recently. However, there is another question of concern: thousands of students consider applying for cheaper and better-funded degree beyond the UK.
Thousands of A-level students took the news of increasing tuition fees and funding cuts serious. They decided to apply for universities in the rest of Europe and the US although they wish they could pay to go to universities in England. Almost 209,000 undergraduates missed out their university places last year and are going to send their documents and
essay papers to overseas universities as a back-up. According to the
essays from European and US universities, the number of British students showing interest to the US and European universities this year has increased up to 30% compared to the previous year.
Although it is more difficult to get the desirable figures to study in
European universities, applicants are not going to give up. Many private universities have already doubled the number of applicants from the UK, e.g. Maastricht University in Holland.
Lauren Welch, of the Fulbright Commission said: "Students are going to study where they can get the most bang for their buck. More students are throwing their hats into the ring in other countries to increase their chances of having at least one offer come next summer."
Many students consider that the financial benefits may go beyond cheaper fees while many employers approve of students’ obtaining degrees overseas. They claim that the demands are higher for applicants to the US universities and this is good for their career prospects.
