International student recruitment at the University of Chester

Abstract

The University of Chester is a higher education institution in the North West of England. Traditionally it recruits most of its students from the UK with few coming from outside the EU. With limits to the number of EU students that the University can recruit being imposed and with little very little non-teaching income, there is very little opportunity for growth in core business. With no restrictions as to student numbers, increasing student numbers from outside the EU would seem to be a potential strategy for the institution. This study involved semi structured interviews with University staff and questionnaires distributed to existing international students at the University. The study found that the University lacked a cohesive, embedded international strategy and was dependent on individual interest within academic faculties, however those faculties that made efforts to market their courses did manage to recruit satisfactorily to them. It also found that support services were not designed around the needs of International students and that there was a lack of international community at the institution.