The EU countries with the most students at Welsh Universities

Dr Owain James

Here are the three EU countries that are most represented at Welsh Universities for the 2021/22 academic year (data from HESA).

1. Poland = 605 students enrolled

2. Germany = 505 students enrolled

3. France = 360 students enrolled

This is different to the rest of the UK where the rank order was:

1. France

2. Italy

3. Spain

While there has been a significant increase in the number of international students in the UK in recent years (with universities in Wales following this trend as well) this isn't the case for EU students.

Since the 2017/18 academic year, the number of EU students in Wales has dropped each year.

In the 2017/18 academic year there were 6,640 EU students in Wales - but by the 2021/22 academic year this had dropped to 4,170!

Needless to say, Brexit and the increased tuition fees that EU students have faced has had an impact.

Now that fees are higher in the UK and at a comparable rate to places like the US and Canada, these students are drawn to other places.

Education in the UK is not necessarily the 'value for money' choice anymore for EU students.

However, this article suggests that the trend MAY be reversing and EU students are warming to the idea of studying in the UK again. We'll see!

Here are the three EU countries that are most represented at Welsh Universities for the 2021/22 academic year (data from HESA).

1. Poland = 605 students enrolled

2. Germany = 505 students enrolled

3. France = 360 students enrolled

This is different to the rest of the UK where the rank order was:

1. France

2. Italy

3. Spain

While there has been a significant increase in the number of international students in the UK in recent years (with universities in Wales following this trend as well) this isn't the case for EU students.

Since the 2017/18 academic year, the number of EU students in Wales has dropped each year.

In the 2017/18 academic year there were 6,640 EU students in Wales - but by the 2021/22 academic year this had dropped to 4,170!

Needless to say, Brexit and the increased tuition fees that EU students have faced has had an impact.

Now that fees are higher in the UK and at a comparable rate to places like the US and Canada, these students are drawn to other places.

Education in the UK is not necessarily the 'value for money' choice anymore for EU students.

However, this article suggests that the trend MAY be reversing and EU students are warming to the idea of studying in the UK again. We'll see!

Dyma’r tair gwlad yn yr UE sydd wedi’u cynrychioli fwyaf ym Mhrifysgolion Cymru ar gyfer blwyddyn academaidd 2021/22 (data gan HESA).

1. Gwlad Pwyl = 605 o fyfyrwyr wedi cofrestru

2. Yr Almaen = 505 o fyfyrwyr wedi cofrestru

3. Ffrainc = 360 o fyfyrwyr wedi cofrestru

Mae hyn yn wahanol i weddill y DU lle y drefn oedd:

1. Ffrainc

2. Eidal

3. Sbaen

Er bod cynnydd sylweddol wedi bod yn nifer y myfyrwyr rhyngwladol yn y DU yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf (gyda phrifysgolion Cymru yn dilyn y duedd hon hefyd) nid yw hyn yn wir am fyfyrwyr yr UE.

Ers blwyddyn academaidd 2017/18, mae’r nifer o fyfyrwyr yr UE yng Nghymru wedi gostwng bob blwyddyn.

Ym mlwyddyn academaidd 2017/18 roedd 6,640 o fyfyrwyr yr UE yng Nghymru - ond erbyn blwyddyn academaidd 2021/22 roedd hyn wedi gostwng i 4,170!

Mae'n amlwg bod Brexit a'r ffioedd dysgu uwch mae myfyrwyr yr UE wedi'i wynebu wedi cael effaith.

Nawr bod ffioedd yn uwch yn y DU ac ar gyfradd debyg i leoedd fel UDA a Chanada, mae'r myfyrwyr hyn yn cael eu denu i leoedd eraill.

Nid addysg yn y DU o reidrwydd yw'r 'gwerth am arian ' dewis pellach i fyfyrwyr yr UE.

Fodd bynnag, mae'r erthygl hon yn awgrymu EFALLAI bod y duedd newid eto a bod myfyrwyr yr UE yn cynhesu at y syniad o astudio yn y DU eto. Cawn weld!