Sector interest in transnational education (TNE) has never been higher, and we are rapidly approaching the point where as many students are studying for British university degrees outside the United Kingdom as within it. Looking forward, we are likely to see the balance tip in favour of overseas provision.
The number of students studying overseas for UK qualifications rose by 5% in 2023/24 to 621,065 with 62% of students studying at undergraduate level. Asia remains the largest region for UK TNE, followed by the EU, the Middle East, and Africa (HESA Aggregate Offshore Record, 2023/24).
With the opportunities and challenges of TNE growth in mind, the UK International Campus Alliance Network (UK-ICAN) provides an open platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and joint advocacy to advance the global impact of UK higher education. The network works in partnership with Universities UK International (UUKi), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and the British Council to shape the future of UK TNE and promote its value on the world stage.
UK-ICAN is a collective of 19 leading UK universities with established overseas campuses across four continents, membership is likely to grow in the period ahead. Together, members of the network represent a student population of around 143,000, according to the HESA Aggregate Offshore Record 2023/24. This population continues to grow with activities across 39 international campuses in 19 countries.
UK-ICAN members are active across all these regions, with campus and strategic partnership activity within:
Including China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
Including Germany, France, Malta, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
Including Ghana, Mauritius and South Africa.
This global footprint reflects the growing demand for UK education and the strength of international partnerships in delivering high-quality, locally embedded UK degrees.
We invite you to be an active part of UK-ICAN to enhance the quality, reach, and reputation of UK TNE in an increasingly competitive global sector. Together, we can ensure our collective TNE enterprise is world leading and delivers successfully across our shared objectives for trade and diplomacy, research, and reputation.