The article “US students turn to Britain after Trump assault” (Report, April 28) highlights a rare opportunity for the UK’s universities.
The sector is under financial strain, with little political appetite to raise domestic tuition fees and a real risk of managed decline. International students bring vital income, research strength and soft power. Transnational education — exporting UK degrees abroad — has merit, but this is not an either/or choice. To seize the moment, England must address a structural barrier: US students finish high school a year earlier and are less prepared for three-year degrees. Scotland’s four-year model offers a practical solution for specific courses. UK higher education is high quality and significantly more affordable than in the US. A well-managed visa regime — based on trusted institutions and rigorous admissions — can attract genuine students without fuelling wider migration concerns. As we consider the UK’s post-Brexit economic model, global higher education is a sector in which the UK has the right to play — and win.
Sam Gyimah
Former Universities & Science Minister in Boris Johnson’s Conservative Government, and Member of Parliament for East Surrey (2010-2019), London SE21, UK
