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Posted Sept. 9, 2011

Growth in international students opting to do STEM subjects

A recent report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) has revealed a big growth in international postgraduate students taking programs in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects in the UK.

This is much bigger than the growth in the number of UK students pursuing these subjects. In fact, the number of international students taking postgraduate taught programs in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects has nearly doubled in 8 years – whereas in the same amount of time the rise among UK postgraduate students opting to study these subjects has been an increase of just 1%. A similar pattern can be seen in the take up of postgraduate research STEM programs in the UK. There is also plenty of good funding for postgraduate STEM students in the form of STEM scholarships and bursaries.

While the interest in studying STEM subjects in the UK at postgraduate level by international students is very welcome, there is now a concern that more UK students also need to be encouraged to take these subjects, as the international students often end up taking their expertise back overseas once their studies in the UK have finished.

According to Professor Matthew Harrison, who is the Director of Education at the Royal Academy of Engineering, if more UK students don’t start to take up STEM subjects at postgraduate level there could be a real threat to the UK’s next generation of potential industry innovators.

The Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, Imran Khan, has now called for “a higher rate of funding for both undergraduate and postgraduate STEM subjects or the consequence could be a skills shortage.”

So how can more home students be encouraged to study science, technology, engineering or maths at postgraduate level in the UK? If they don't, will it lead to less funding and then to the closure of crucial science, engineering or technology departments? And if this happens what impact could it have on the future of industry in the UK?

If you have been accepted to study a STEM subject (or indeed any subject) at postgraduate level,  you can apply for one of our Postgraduate Solutions Study Bursaries worth £500 to help towards the cost of your tuition fees.

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2 comments

Shakeel Ahmed Jan. 28, 2022, 8:32 p.m.

Hi dear sir, i am complete BA mass communication in 2021. I am instead in MSc mass communication in university of London.

Charlotte King Feb. 1, 2022, 10:03 p.m.

Hello – Communication isn't a STEM subject, however City, University of London offers this masters degree which could be suitable for your interests >
https://www.city.ac.uk/prospective-students/courses/postgraduate/media-and-communications

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