Emerging post-pandemic challenges in British higher education for students of Pakistani origin and potential solutions

A combined threat of Brexit, the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic and a challenging cost-of-living crisis has led higher education in the UK into difficult financial waters, (Nash, 2024). In addition to this has been the emergence of new immigration 2024 requirements that are now linked to student status with a higher income threshold for graduates (Baker, 2023). The Research and reporting from the Migration Advisory Committee predicts that the UK international student market is estimated to be worth more than 17 billion pounds and in recent years a rising number of applicants has come from primarily the urban centres of Pakistan. Post-Pandemic work from Colbran (2023) puts forward data that estimates there are approximately 64,000 Pakistani students studying overseas with the great majority of those enrolled in business type degrees. Their research also demonstrates how this figure has increased year on year since 2020 with Australia and the UK being chosen as amongst the most popular destinations for higher education. This study draws on a qualitative approach with use of focused expert interviews from Scotland and England, including experienced academic leaders and students who have come to study in different regions of the UK. The fieldwork was conducted in early 2024 through recorded audio and video interviewing. This research hopes to shed light on the current challenges while also providing solutions to what can be done to further support this student population during unstable economic times.