European universities to be part of Ucas admissions

British sixth-formers will be able to apply to continental European universities through the UK admissions system for the first time, under a landmark reform that will transform the higher education market, the Guardian can reveal.

The change, promoted by Ucas as extending student choice and reflecting the increasingly globalised nature of higher education, is likely to accelerate the steady increase in the number of young Britons studying abroad. The trend has already been boosted by a boom in the number of courses taught entirely in English by continental universities and priced well below the maximum £9,000-a-year annual UK tuition fee or, in some countries, with no fee at all.

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Denying students access to portable tuition loans risks shutting poorer students off from overseas study, according to Peter Lampl, chairman of education charity The Sutton Trust. He said: “There’s no doubt that overseas study holds real benefits and is a realistic option. The problem is that many young people, particularly those from low- and middle-income families, just don’t consider it as a feasible choice for them.

“More must be done to ensure that all teenagers are aware of their options and given the best possible advice. US students can access US government grants and loans for study abroad and our government should accord British students the same rights.”

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