World-class transnational education (TNE) for rising generations: what’s next for UK TNE?

Global demand for tertiary education is expected to increase significantly over the next decade - if participation in UK higher education were to increase at the average rate for the last 10 years, then there would be demand for around 358,000 additional places in England alone by 2035 (HEPI report). In 2020, over 235 million higher education students were enrolled globally, more than double the 100 million students enrolled in 2000 (UNESCO UIS database). This predicted increase poses several questions for policymakers as governments face investment trade-offs and for higher education providers as they look to close any gap between supply and demand. 

Whilst some students globally will be internationally mobile, most will need access to education in their home country or region – globally, of the overall 264+ million higher education students, only 6.9 million are mobile, approximately 2.6%. Innovative models of TNE pose an opportunity for the international community to meet the demand for education globally. With its world-class higher education offering, the UK continues to enrol over half a million students globally via TNE. UK TNE student enrolments increased by 47,085 (+7.8%) from 606,485 in 2022–23 to 653,570 in 2023–24, with over 170 UK providers delivering TNE across 220+ countries (HESA AOR data). This brings the UK TNE student headcount ever closer to the number of international students recruited onshore to the UK: 732,285 in 2023–2024 (HESA data). 

From 25–27 June 2025, the British Council explored ’glocalisation’ strategies for TNE at the fifth edition of the Deep Dialogues event series, held in Cardiff, Wales, and co-organised in partnership with Universities UK International, Universities Wales, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Swansea University and Cardiff University. Delegates and speakers from 22 countries were joined by Sir Steve Smith, the UK Government International Education Champion, and Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, to engage in rich discussions on delivering TNE in local and global contexts.  

A core takeaway from the June 2025 Deep Dialogues was a shared consensus among international stakeholders, that:

UK TNE continues to contribute to raising global education standards, enabling education systems to develop in parallel, expanding opportunity and mutual learning across borders. UK TNE has proven its capacity to respond not only to increasing demand for high quality tertiary education, but also to meet the needs of underrepresented groups including women and girls, learners with disabilities, refugees and migrants, and ethnic minorities. Moreover, UK TNE has contributed to education collaboration being placed at the centre of bilateral government partnerships, fostering shared innovation towards a more united and resilient future. 

This theme will be part of the wider conversations at the upcoming International Higher Education Forum. Visit the event webpage to explore the agenda and sign up for updates as further sessions and speakers are announced.