Six ways to boost international student recruitment

Universities have always been cosmopolitan places, and this is something that we need to preserve. I was an international student myself decades ago. I came over from Canada as a graduate student in the 1990s. There is nothing new about student immigration.

The increase in the flow of international students is something we must embrace. Over the past few years it is certainly true in various jurisdictions, and it is not unique to the UK, that international student fees have effectively supplanted or supplemented the spending that compensated for the domestic spending constraints. In this article, I will share some of my observations and tips on increasing international student recruitment, based on my experience as a former international student, a current academic leader and an international researcher.

How international students contribute to our labour market and society

A reason that is often understated or mischaracterised in the UK debate is the economic benefits and graduate outcomes of international students. The data suggests that international students do a very good job of getting into the labour market and getting well-paid jobs. And I think London has a particular role to play in that outcome. Most international students are MSC or MBA graduates. Many of them have done undergraduate degrees and then got a more specialist master’s degrees at institutions such as King’s College London or the University of Sussex. Most of them study business subjects, engineering or computer science.

• How to build a stronger pipeline for international student recruitment
• How bespoke collaborations can boost your international recruitment
• Business school recruitment: disrupt to diversify

Tips on recruiting more international students

Here are some of the activities that we have found effective in enhancing international student recruitment at the University of Sussex Business School.

1. Organise visits for senior faculty: we regularly visit partner institutions and potential markets to meet prospective students and alumni. We also promote our visits through social media, webinars and local media outlets. This helps us to raise our profile, showcase our expertise and build relationships with key influencers.

2. Build partnerships with overseas institutions: we have established important partnerships and have long-standing research links with several reputable institutions around the world, such as Tsinghua University and Renmin University of China in Beijing, Seoul National University (SNU) in South Korea and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). These partnerships enable us to offer study visits, exchange programmes, research collaborations and other educational opportunities. They also enhance our reputation and visibility in the global market.

3. Publish international students and alumni interviews and success stories: we regularly feature the stories and achievements of our international students and alumni on our website, newsletter and social media platforms. We also invite them to share their experiences and insights with prospective students through online events, blogs and podcasts. This helps showcase the diversity, quality and impact of our international community, and to inspire and attract more applicants.

4. Organise summer schools and tailored programmes: we offer a range of summer schools and tailored programmes for overseas students who want to experience studying and living in the UK. These programmes cover various business, management and economics topics, including academic, cultural and social activities. They also provide an opportunity for students to network with our faculty, students and alumni and to learn more about our programmes and facilities. This summer we hosted the second bespoke summer school with SNU faculty and students with our science policy research unit. 

5. Offer scholarships for international students: we offer several scholarships and bursaries for international students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and social impact. These scholarships range from partial to full tuition fee waivers and we award them competitively. They help us to attract and support talented and deserving students from different backgrounds and regions. We host many international Chevening scholars who share their stories about studying at the business school.

6. Use collaborative online international learning (COIL): our use of this pioneering interactive learning methodology enables us to interact with other international universities and professional institutions online. For example, our COIL partnership with UNAM was based on a simulation game in which international business students competed in groups of five or six as they made decisions about their respective companies. Students from UNAM joined teams as consultants to offer guidance and strategic advice. The great thing about COIL is that you can facilitate international collaboration by using platforms that students are already familiar with such as WhatsApp, Facebook or Viber.

The Financial Times recently reported on the UK’s skills shortage, which is currently being addressed, at least partially, by highly qualified international students who do well in our labour market. I am in favour of international students, and encouraging them to apply to study at our institutions is even more important in today’s political climate.

Steven McGuire is the dean of the University of Sussex Business School.

If you would like advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week, sign up for the Campus newsletter.