Transnational education (TNE) data

In 2022–23, Wales had nine institutions providing TNE to 34,340 students. Welsh TNE student numbers grew from 2018–19 to 2022–23, increasing by 13.5% over the period. However this growth has not been steady, with decreases in 2019–20 and 2021–22 sandwiched by growth years in 2020–21 and 2022–23.  

Collaborative provision was the most popular form of Welsh TNE, accounting for 70.3% of Welsh TNE students. Collaborative provision has also experienced the largest growth of provision types, growing by 95.4% from 2018–9 to 2022–23. The second most popular form of TNE is distance learning, at 16.7%, however the number of students engaging in distance learning decreased year on year since 2018–19, falling by 51.0% from 2018–19 to 2022–23.  

In 2022–23, Welsh TNE student numbers in Africa continued to decrease for the second year in a row, declining by 17.8% compared to the previous academic year, to 1,850 students. Morrocco has overtaken Egypt as the continent’s top host for Welsh TNE, due to Welsh TNE in Egypt experiencing a substantial decrease year on year, decreasing overall by 74.3% from 2018–19 to 2022–23 (excepting a 2.0% increase in 2020–21). 

Asia continues to be the largest host region for Welsh TNE with 22,925 students, making up 66.8% of Welsh TNE. Student numbers in Asia have grown by 25.0% since the previous year, with Sri Lanka remaining the largest host region for Welsh TNE students and student numbers increasing to 13,760 (up by 48.7%) from 2021–22 to 2022–23. TNE student numbers in Vietnam increased the most, up by 82.0% from 2021–22. Malaysia saw a substantial decrease of 32.9% in TNE student numbers compared to 2021–22. 

Welsh TNE in Australasia is small scale, with student numbers remaining around 80 in 2022–23. Australia and New Zealand are by far the two most important host countries for UK TNE in the region and Australia saw a decline in student numbers in 2022–23. 

Europe remains the second largest TNE market for Welsh providers after Asia, with 5,245 students. However, Welsh TNE numbers in Europe have decreased each year from 2018–19 to 2022–23, falling from 12,090 in 2018–19 to 5,245 in 2022–23, a decrease of 56.6%. Cyprus has been the source of most of these decreases, with the number of TNE students in Cyprus falling from 9,045 in 2018–19 to 1,615 in 2022–23, a decrease of 82.1% in five years. Ukraine has shown the largest growth from 2021–22, with student numbers increasing by 87.5% in 2022–23. 

Welsh TNE student numbers in the Middle East have grown for the second year in a row, with a 15.6% increase in 2022–23, reaching 3,540. Oman remains the largest TNE market for Welsh providers with 2,570 students, with the largest growth in United Arab Emirates, at 66.0%. 

Welsh TNE student numbers in North America increased slightly by 0.6% from 2021–22 to 2022–23 to reach 655. The United States continues to grow as the region’s largest TNE market, with 260 students in 2022–23, an increase of 183.5% from 2018–19. Trinidad and Tobago experienced the largest decrease since 2021–22, of 22.7%. 

South America is the smallest region for Welsh TNE, at 45 students in 2022–23, up 7.5% on the previous year. 

Collaborative provision – A type of TNE provision. Students registered at a UK-based higher education provider study overseas for the provider’s award. This includes, for example, joint and dual degrees, but does not cover studying at an overseas campus of the UK provider. 

Distance, flexible or distributed learning – A type of TNE provision. Students register at a UK-based higher education provider but study in-country via distance, flexible and/or distributed learning for the provider’s award. 

Other arrangement – A type of TNE provision. Applies to students studying overseas for an award of the reporting provider in a manner not covered in other types of TNE provision, for example, via multiple UK or international partners delivering a programme, or through a combination of other types of provision. 

Overseas campus – A type of TNE provision. Applies to students registered at the reporting provider who study for a UK higher education provider award at an overseas campus. 

Overseas partner organisation – A type of TNE provision. Applies to students who register with an overseas partner organisation to study overseas for a UK higher education provider award. The majority of teaching is delivered in-country; this arrangement includes validation and franchise arrangements. 

TNE – Higher education transnational education (TNE) is the delivery of degrees in a country or territory other than that where the awarding provider is based. It can include, but is not limited to, overseas campuses, distance learning, online provision, joint and dual degree programmes, double awards, fly-in faculty, and mixed models traditionally referred to as blended learning. 

Data about TNE is collected annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency via the Aggregate Offshore Record. AOR data has been collected since 2007–08 from UK higher education providers who subscribe to HESA. Universities provide data in their AOR return about ‘students that are studying wholly outside the UK who are either registered with the reporting provider or who are studying for an award of the reporting provider’.  

Following HESA’s definitions, this report uses the term ‘higher education providers’ to refer to the UK universities and institutions covered by the AOR. HESA collects data which relates to five categories or types of TNE provision and providers are responsible for returning data against these. The categories are broad, and universities may not always categorise their programmes by the same definitions used by HESA. The list below shows these categories, how they are referred to in this report, and an example for each. These examples are not exhaustive, and there are many other ways that TNE programmes operate which may be included in each category but not included in the table.  

In accordance with HESA’s Standard Rounding Methodology: 

• Data has been rounded to the nearest 5  
• Any number lower than 2.5 has been rounded to 0  
• Percentages have been supressed where totals are less than 25  

Historically, Oxford Brookes University students accounted for over 40% of all UK TNE student numbers, due to a partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). However, in 2019–20 Oxford Brookes University changed its reporting practices, resulting in a 256,450 reduction in the total number of students reported to HESA for the Aggregate Offshore Record (AOR) between 2018–19 and 2019–20. 

This page includes Oxford Brookes University in analysis during the period 2019–20 to 2022–23.