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The scale of Welsh HE TNE 2021—22
Last updated on Friday 3 Jan 2025 at 3:22pm
Welsh higher education (HE) transnational education (TNE) has steadily increased in recent years. In 2021–22, nine Welsh higher education providers reported 31,575 students learning through TNE in 150 countries and territories worldwide – this is up from 26,980 in 2017–18. Cardiff Metropolitan University is the leading provider of TNE in Wales, with 13,540 students, and accounts for 42.9% of all Welsh HE TNE students.
Please note that we have removed graphs where student numbers are below 25. This year, we have published two companion reports to this Wales report, covering the UnIted Kingdom and Scotland.
Scale of TNE 2021—22 (Wales): At a glance
Overview
Type of provision
Figure W1 shows that almost two-thirds (61.6%) of Welsh HE TNE students were studying through collaborative provision; 24.8% were studying through distance, flexible or distributed learning; 11.4% were studying while registered at an overseas partner organisation; and 2.2% studied at overseas campuses.
Level of study
Figure W2 shows that in 2021–22, most Welsh HE TNE students were studying for either undergraduate (55.6%) or postgraduate taught (43.3%) degree programmes. Students on postgraduate research programmes made up the smallest group (1.1%). For the first time since 2017–18, the number of undergraduate students overtook the number of postgraduate taught students.
Regions
In 2021—22, Welsh HE TNE was delivered in 150 countries and territories around the world, with over half (58.1%) the students studying in Asia, followed by Europe (22.6%). Asia has seen the largest increase in student numbers; they currently stand at 18,335, up by 17.2% since 2017—18.
Figure W3 and Table 1 show the top 20 host countries and territories by student numbers in 2021–22, the percentage change from the previous year and the proportion of the global total in each. The largest variations took place in Vietnam (+39.7%), India (+39.5%) and Sri Lanka (+27.4%). There were small decreases in Oman (-3.7%) and Hong Kong (-1.8%).
Insights by region: Africa
Similar to Scotland, Africa represents a small market for Welsh HE TNE. Even though Egypt has historically been the top host country of Welsh HE TNE students (and is one of the UK government's top five priority countries), numbers have dropped significantly in the last five years.
As shown in Figure W4, Welsh HE TNE student numbers in Africa have gradually declined since 2017–18 and are currently at the lowest they have been in the past five years.
Top host countries
Table W2 shows the 10 top host countries in Africa in 2021–22. Egypt hosted the most students, with 835 (37.1% of the total), despite having the largest proportional decrease compared to 2020–21 (-36.0%). The greatest proportional increases took place in Kenya (50.0%), Zambia (40.0%) and Mauritius (33.3%).
Figure W5 shows the development of student numbers in the top five host countries.
Type of provision
Figure W6 shows how many students were studying through each type of TNE provision. Distance, flexible or distributed learning was the most popular type of provision, represented in all 39 countries where TNE was reported. Interestingly, the highest number of students studied via collaborative provision (1,005).
Level of study
Figure W7a and Figure W7b show the distribution of undergraduate and postgraduate TNE study across African countries. Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco accounted for the majority of students at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Insights by region: Asia
Much like the rest of the UK, Asia is the top market for Welsh HE TNE, with numbers seeing a sharp increase since 2019–20. The top host country in this region is Sri Lanka, which is significant given the UK’s largest TNE partner is China. Welsh providers saw a huge rise in TNE student numbers in Sri Lanka in 2021—22, despite the political and economic challenges the country has been facing. Also worth noting is the growing focus on TNE in Vietnam; a priority market in the Global Wales programme, while numbers are low, an increase of 146.4% in one year could be a sign of things to come.
As shown in Figure W8, student numbers in Asia have continued to increase, growing by 23.5% between 2020–21 and 2021–22.
Top host countries and territories
Table W3 shows the 10 Asian countries and territories hosting the most students in 2021–22. Sri Lanka was ranked the top host country, with 9,255 (50.5% of the total) and saw the second-greatest proportional increase (+48.8%). Vietnam saw the largest and most substantial increase in Welsh HE TNE student numbers (+146.4%), while Malaysia and Uzbekistan experienced sizeable declines.
Figure W9 shows the development of student numbers in the top five Asian host countries and territories, which together accounted for 88.9% of all Welsh HE TNE students in Asia in 2021–22.
Type of provision
Figure W10 shows the number of students studying through each type of TNE provision. TNE via collaborative provision had the highest number of students (13,650). However, distance, flexible or distributed learning was represented in all 26 countries in Asia where TNE was reported.
Level of study
Figure W11a and Figure W11b show the distribution between undergraduate and postgraduate TNE study across Asian countries and territories. Sri Lanka accounted for the largest number of students at undergraduate (45.3%) and postgraduate (59.4%) level.
Insights by region: Australasia
Australasia has not seen significant changes in the last five years in Welsh HE TNE students. Numbers remain extremely low, and this is part of a wider trend we are witnessing across the UK. There is scope for Wales to collaborate more with this region.
As shown in Figure W12, student numbers in Australasia have steadily increased over the past five years, although the numbers remain very low (under 100).
Top host countries and territories
Of all countries and territories in Australasia, Australia hosted the most students in 2021–22, with 81.3% of the total; however, this only equates to 65 students. Numbers in all host countries and territories were below 100 students. Looking back further, there have not been any significant changes in student numbers amongst the top five host countries between 2017–18 and 2021–22.
Type of provision
Distance, flexible or distributed learning was the only type of provision delivered in all five countries and territories where Welsh HE TNE students were reported in Australasia, with most of them studying in Australia.
Level of study
Australia and New Zealand hosted 92.5% of all postgraduate TNE study in 2021–22. Given the numbers are quite small outside of Australia and New Zealand, we are unable to show the full picture of the total number of students by level of study.
Insights by region: Europe
Europe is the second largest market for Welsh HE TNE, with distance or flexible learning being the most popular method of provision. However, numbers have fallen to their lowest level since 2017, as a result of a sharp decline in Cyprus. This is significant, given Cyprus is a top host for UK HE TNE students more generally.
As shown in Figure W13, student numbers in Europe have decreased overall in the past five years, with a sharp decline between 2020–21 and 2021–22, down from 10,690 to 7,145.
Top host countries
Table W4 shows the 10 European countries hosting the most students in 2021–22. Cyprus hosted the most students in Europe, with 51.8% of the total, followed by Spain (25.3% of the total). Surprisingly, Cyprus also saw the largest percentage decrease (-48.7%) compared to 2020–21.
Figure W14 shows the development of student numbers in the top five host countries, which together accounted for 93.6% of all Welsh HE TNE students in Europe in 2021–22.
Type of provision
Figure W15 shows how many students were studying through each type of TNE provision. Distance, flexible or distributed learning was the most popular, delivered in all 35 countries where TNE students were reported in Europe, with Cyprus being the top host country.
Level of study
Figure W16a and Figure W16b show the distribution between undergraduate and postgraduate Welsh HE TNE study across European countries. Spain and Greece together hosted 88.4% of all undergraduate students. At postgraduate level, Cyprus accounted for the most TNE students at 81.3%.
Insights by region: Middle East
Numbers in the Middle East are quite low for Welsh HE TNE students and have been in decline for the past five year, with the exception of last year, which saw a small increase. In contrast to UK TNE overall, Oman is the top host country by a large margin compared to its neighbouring countries, hosting almost three-quarters of Welsh HE TNE students in the Middle East. Despite this, between 2017—18 and 2020—21, numbers steadily decreased before increasing slightly in 2021—22.
As shown in Figure W17, student numbers in the Middle East steadily declined between 2017–18 and 2020–21 but increased slightly in the last year from 2,980 to 3,070.
Top host countries
Table W5 shows the six Middle Eastern countries hosting the most students in 2021–22. Oman hosted the most students, with 74.6% of the total, followed by Bahrain (8.8%) and the UAE (8.6%). The greatest proportional increase took place in Qatar (+20.0%).
Figure W18 shows the development of student numbers in the top five host countries, which together accounted for 97.7% of all Welsh HE TNE students in the Middle East in 2021–22.
Type of provision
Figure W19 shows how many students were studying through each type of TNE provision. Distance, flexible or distributed learning was delivered in all 13 countries; the top host was the UAE. TNE provision via collaborative provision had the largest number of students (2,445), even though only four out of 13 countries were represented.
Level of study
Figure W20a and Figure W20b show the distribution between undergraduate and postgraduate TNE study across Middle Eastern countries. At undergraduate level, Oman accounted for 88.0% of all students; at the postgraduate level, the UAE accounted for over a third (38.8%) of all students.
Insights by region: North America
Numbers in North America are quite low for Welsh HE TNE students; however, reflecting its priority in the Global Wales programme, they are steadily increasing.
As shown in Figure W21, over the past five years, Welsh HE TNE student numbers have gradually increased and continue to do so.
Top host countries and territories
Table W6 shows the top five North American countries hosting the most students in 2021–22. The US was the top country, hosting 38.2% of students, followed closely by Canada, with 26.0%.
Figure W22 shows the development of student numbers in the top five host countries and territories, which together accounted for 84.7% of all Welsh HE TNE students in North America in 2021–22.
Type of provision
Figure W23 shows how many students were studying through each type of TNE provision. Distance, flexible or distributed learning was reported in all 23 countries and territories, with the largest number of students in the US.
Level of study
Figure W24 shows the distribution of postgraduate TNE study across North America. The US (38.7%) and Canada (26.3%) accounted for the most students.
Insights by region: South America
Much like UK HE TNE overall, numbers for Welsh HE TNE students in South America remain very low (under 50). As such, it is difficult to draw any concrete conclusions because the dataset is so small.
As shown in Figure W25, student numbers have not changed significantly between 2017–18 and 2021–22, and numbers remain below 50.
Top host countries
Guyana hosted the most students, with 50.0% of the total, followed by Brazil (25.0%).
Type of provision
Distance, flexible or distributed learning was the only type of provision delivered in South America. It was delivered in all seven countries where TNE students were reported in South America, with Guyana hosting the most students.