Student mobility data 2020-21: foundations of recovery

Prior to the onset of the pandemic, student mobility from the UK was on an upward trajectory, rising from 36,400 students going abroad in 2015-16 to 50,875 in 2018-19. Despite mobile student numbers in 2020-21 dropping to around 27.5% of the pre-pandemic peak, early indications suggest that recovery is not far away. Unveiled in January 2021, the UK Government’s Turing Scheme began funding mobilities at the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year. £67m of funding was allocated to UK higher education institutions, with the intention of funding just short of 30,000 student participants during the scheme’s first year. Even if some proportion of these planned mobilities were not able to happen due to continuing Covid restrictions in key partner countries such as China and Japan, Turing-funded mobilities will likely contribute to the 2021-22 data showing a strong recovery. Additionally, mobility teams from across the UK have reported a more positive picture. In our Mobility Management Survey (MMS) conducted in May 2022, more than three quarters of the 59 universities who responded estimated that mobilities from their institutions in the 2021-22 academic year have recovered to at least 50% of pre-pandemic levels, with 14% stating that mobility has entirely recovered.

The outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020 led universities to explore various contingencies and build on existing flexible approaches to ensure students were still able to access and benefit from  international experiences as part of their studies. This resulted in virtual mobility and other ‘internationalisation at home’ activities emerging as highly important topics as covered by our 2021 report Internationalisation at Home –Developing Global Citizens Without Travel. In recognition of the importance of this type of mobility provision, HESA introduced exceptional data reporting guidance to capture virtual activity. During the pandemic-affected academic years of 2019-20 to 2022-23, universities were able to report virtual activities in the same category as in-person mobilities if an alternative experience involving online learning or online work experience delivered by an international partner was provided while students remained in the UK.

According to our survey results, 63% of universities introduced or expanded virtual mobility in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. These opportunities also appear to be here to stay in many cases, with 63% of universities who introduced virtual programmes planning to maintain them long term. Feedback from respondents also indicated that virtual mobility opportunities have been especially well received by certain cohorts of students, for example mature students who have appreciated the flexible nature of virtual international experiences.

Despite some difficult years for student mobility, the resilience shown by students and university staff has laid the foundations for a successful recovery to the pre-pandemic trajectory of growth. Partnerships with overseas universities and placement providers have been largely maintained, and in some cases strengthened by more frequent engagement via online platforms such as Zoom and Teams.

The introduction of the Turing Scheme is providing funding support for tens of thousands of students, with a strong focus on widening participation to disadvantaged and underrepresented students. The recovery period will not be without its challenges – difficulties securing visas with European partners will need to be overcome, and opportunities to enhance and develop the scope and ambition of the Turing Scheme must not be missed – but the importance of providing students with life changing international experiences remains undiminished.

You can see more in our International Facts and Figures 2022 publication.

The full results of our Mobility Management Survey will be published later this summer.