It follows issues that home college students could possibly be neglected by universities, particularly Russell Group establishments, in favour of worldwide candidates who pay greater tuition charges.

“We simply don’t see that,” stated UCAS chief govt Clare Marchant, talking on BBC Radio 4’s Immediately program.

“Actually, worldwide positioned candidates at this level look a few share factors down on final 12 months.

“Clearly that image will change as we undergo the remainder of clearing, which runs all through to mid-October, however we’re simply not seeing a few of that story play out.”

In complete, 51,210 worldwide college students have been accepted through UCAS, which handles undergraduate admission for UK universities, in comparison with 52,440 final 12 months (-2.3%).

The highest three nations with positioned candidates are China (11,630 acceptances in 2023 vs 13,180 in 2022), India (4,780 vs 4,050) and Hong Kong (3,050 vs 3,420).

Viviene Stern, CEO of Universities UK, stated it was notable that worldwide college students numbers had been much like final 12 months and down from 2019 “flattening the narrative that home college students are in a roundabout way dropping out”.

UK training secretary Gillian Keegan additionally rejected these claims, declaring that almost all worldwide college students are making use of at postgraduate stage and that undergraduate proportions have remained “fairly regular”.

Marchant had beforehand advised that the 13% of positioned college students being worldwide was unlikely to “change vastly” in 2023.

“Worldwide training is one thing we’re actually good at”

Keegan added that the nation welcomes worldwide college students who “supply an awesome deal” to dwelling college students.

“Worldwide training is one thing we’re actually good at on this nation, it’s one among our largest exports.

“I believe it’s shut to creating about £30 billion for our economic system and it’s additionally an actual a part of our world affect and mushy energy.

“But it surely’s largely happening at postgraduate stage when it comes to the numbers of scholars.”

The 79% home acceptance charge is down on 2022 figures, when 81% of UK college students earned locations at their first selection establishments, however up on 2019 information, when 74% did so.

That is the primary 12 months since 2019 that college students in England haven’t benefitted from grade-inflation as a response to the pandemic.