Nine UK universities that rely on Chinese students for a FIFTH of their income
Revealed: Nine UK universities that rely on Chinese students for a FIFTH of their income – as rising tensions with Beijing leave institutions ‘s****ing themselves’ about mass exodus
- The University of Glasgow relies on China for 31 per cent of its total income
- Ministers fear a reduction in the number of Chinese students coming next year
- China warned British businesses ‘retaliation is coming’ after its 5G Huawei ban
Published: 07:52 EDT, 19 July 2020 | Updated: 09:15 EDT, 19 July 2020
Nine universities in the UK rely on Chinese student for more than a fifth of their total tuition income, it has been revealed.
The startling numbers come as ministers brace themselves for a reduction in the 120,000 Chinese students on British soil next year as tensions rise with Beijing.
This morning, China warned British businesses ‘retaliation is coming’ and they could be ‘in the firing line’ after the UK banned Huawei from the nation’s 5G network.
Ministers fear a retaliation in the education sector as well, with less Chinese students expected to join British universities next year.
New data shows the extent to which universities across the country are reliant on Chinese students, with the University of Glasgow topping the league table.
Nine universities in the UK rely on Chinese student for more than 20 per cent of their total tuition income, it has been revealed. Pictured: the University of Glasgow is most proportionally reliant, with a staggering 31 per cent of all tuition fees coming from students from the Asian country
The University of Liverpool relies on Chinese students for 29 per cent of its tuition fees, making an estimated £89million in income from Chinese students
New data shows the extent to which universities across the country are reliant on Chinese students (stock photo)
The UK has more Chinese students than any other country and they account for £1.7billion in tuition fees every year.
University College London tops the list as the university taking in the most income from Chinese students at £127million, followed by the University of Manchester at £110million.
But in terms of the proportion of tuition income paid by Chinese students, the University of Glasgow is most reliant, with a staggering 31 per cent of all tuition fees coming from students from the Asian country.
The University of Liverpool follows closely at 29 per cent, while the University of Sheffield comes in at third with 26 per cent.
University College London tops the list as the university taking in the most income from Chinese students at £127million. Pictured: The university’s Pearson building
The top ten universities that rely most on Chinese students
1) University of Glasgow
31% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students
£70million estimated income from Chinese students
10% of students from China
2) University of Liverpool
29% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students
£89million estimated income from Chinese students
19% of students from China
3) University of Sheffield
26% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students
£85million estimated income from Chinese students
16% of students from China
4) Imperial College London
23% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students
£73million estimated income from Chinese students
14% of students from China
5) University of Manchester
23% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students
£110million estimated income from Chinese students
14% of students from China
6) University College London
23% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students
£127million estimated income from Chinese students
15% of students from China
7) University of Warwick
22% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students
£76million estimated income from Chinese students
12% of students from China
8) University of Birmingham
22% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students
£77million estimated income from Chinese students
12% of students from China
9) Edinburgh University
20% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students
£71million estimated income from Chinese students
10% of students from China
10) University of Leeds
19% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students
£77million estimated income from Chinese students
11% of students from China
Source: The Sunday Times
Imperial College London, the University of Manchester and University College London make up the next three down the table, all relying on Chinese students for 23 per cent of their income.
The Universities of Warwick and Birmingham both rely on Chinese students for 20 per cent of their tuition income.
And the University of Leeds is the tenth most reliant university, taking in 19 per cent of its tuition fess from Chinese students.
A minister told The Sunday Times last week that officials were ‘s******g themselves’ at the prospect of less Chinese students joining British universities.
The UK has more Chinese students than any other country and they account for £1.7billion in tuition fees every year
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said: ‘Not only are university finances threatened by the withdrawal of Chinese investment.
‘It also means they would struggle to pay for research, which is a fundamental part of what makes our universities so attractive.’
The threat of Chinese withdrawal of investment in British universities’ research comes after it emerged that Beijing could target British businesses operating in China today.
Leaders of UK businesses in Beijing were summoned to a meeting where they were apparently told by a Chinese government official that their operations could suffer because of growing tensions with Britain.
It is thought some of the UK’s biggest companies on the world stage like Jaguar Land Rover, BP and GlaxoSmithKline could all be targeted.
Liu Xiaoming, China’s Ambassador to the UK, said last week that Chinese businesses could pull out of Britain following the Huawei decision.
He said ‘the way you treat Huawei will be followed very closely by other Chinese businesses’ and that the decision had ‘undermined the trust between the two countries’.
The move comes after ministers announced last week that Huaweii was being excluded from British 5G infrastructure, with all of its equipment to be stripped out by 2027 over security concerns.
200,000 Hong Kongers are set to come to Britain to live after UK offered them a route to citizenship
By RYAN FAHEY FOR MAILONLINE
Around 200,000 Hong Kongers could come to Britain after the UK offered them a route to citizenship.
This month, Boris Johnson unveiled firm plans for the UK to welcome Hong Kong residents today after China instituted a draconian new clampdown on opposition.
The Prime Minister hit out after the introduction of a landmark new security law giving the communist state sweeping powers to punish dissent in the former British territory.
The Foreign Office is working on estimates that 200,000 Hong Kongers will take up the offer and move to the UK, according to the Financial Times.
The Foreign Office is working on estimates that 200,000 Hong Kongers will take up the offer and move to the UK, according to the Financial Times (Pictured: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in the House of Commons to discuss China’s controversial Security Law on July 1 2020)
One source told the newspaper that the exact number was in a state of ‘flux’ with an average of 180,000 expected. Another said the office was predicting over 200,000.
Alan Mak, a Conservative MP of Chinese descent, said he didn’t think many Hong Kongers would take the offer but said he felt, if they did, it would ‘be a very big boost’ to the economy, adding that ‘Hong Kongers are very industrious and entrepreneurial.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on July 1 Mr Johnson said: ‘The enactment an imposition of this national security law constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British joint declaration.
‘It violates Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and is in direct conflicts with Hong Kong’s basic laws. The law also threatens freedoms and rights protected by the joint declaration.
‘We made clear that if China continued down this path we would introduce a new route for those with ”British National Overseas” status to enter the UK, granting them limited leave to remain with the ability to live and work in the UK and thereafter to apply for citizenship, and that is precisely what we will do now.’
Police detain a protester after spraying pepper spray during a protest marking the 23rd anniversary of UK pulling out of Hong Kong in 1997
Johnson previously called the Hong Kong security law a ‘clear and serious violation’ of the joint declaration between the UK and China over Hong Kong’s future.
And he said that the UK would open its doors to those living there to come to Britain to escape the clampdown by the totalitarian regime.
The move, dubbed a ‘route to citizenship’ by the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, will give around three million Hong Kongers the rights to ‘British National Overseas’ passports.
Days after the announcement, Beijing slammed the British Government, accusing them of ‘gross interference in China’s internal affairs’ and ‘political manipulation’.
Downing Street hit back at the ambassador’s comments and said while the UK and China have a ‘strong and constructive relationship’ in many areas ‘this relationship does not come at any price’.
