The number of non-EU students applying to study in the UK hits record high as universities seek out higher fees

A record number of non-EU international students have applied to study in the UK amid concern they are favoured by universities for paying higher fees.

Applications from non-EU countries have increased by 1.5 per cent to 95,840 in the past year, Ucas figures show.

This has been driven by a rise in applicant numbers from China and Turkey, which increased by 3.3 per cent and 37 per cent respectively compared with last January.

Some UK students could be pushed out of universities in favour of more lucrative international students who pay much higher fees, experts say.

With tuition fees frozen during a period of high inflation, universities are increasingly looking to foreign students as a way of sustaining funding. Fees have been capped at £9,250 for domestic students but there is no limit for international students.

Nick Hillman, of the Higher Education Policy Institute, a think-tank, said: ‘UK universities vehemently deny that international students are displacing home students and it is certainly more complicated than a straight one-for-one swap.

Some UK students could be pushed out of universities in favour of more lucrative international students who pay much higher fees, experts say (stock image)

Applications from non-EU countries have increased by 1.5 per cent to 95,840 in the past year, Ucas figures show (stock image)

‘It is possible that the result of this year’s application round could be fewer UK undergraduates and more international ones than last year.

‘Universities lose increasingly large sums on each home student and have an ever bigger shortfall to make up via international student fees.’

By the January deadline this year, 115,730 overseas students had applied for undergraduate places – up 0.7 per cent on the last year, according to figures from the university admissions service Ucas.

Vanessa Wilson, chief executive of University Alliance, said: ‘The benefits are mutual: International students drive more than £40billion in education export income every year, approximately £560 per citizen.

‘They also contribute additional subsidies to access the NHS and support the financial sustainability of our universities, enabling them to open up more opportunities for home students without increasing the contribution of taxpayers or UK students.’

Meanwhile, the Department for Education has pledged to investigate allegations of bad practice by agents who recruit international students to study in the UK.

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