Position Paper 1 - International Student Recruitment
Hannah Diffee
Professor Reppert
International Public Relations
Feb. 2024
Position Paper 1 - International Student Recruitment
Higher Education Trends: At Home and Across the Pond
International student enrollment has also increased in the United States, quickly climbing to pre-pandemic numbers and allowing international students to comprise a significant portion of student populations nationwide. Bestcolleges.com reports that "the total number of international students (including those enrolled in a program and those working after school in [optional practical training]) represents about 5.6% of the nearly 19 million college students in the U.S. in 2022-2023."
The above graph shows the number of international students studying in the United States from 2003 to 2023.
University of the Arts: London
The University of the Arts London (UAL) is one university that focuses on recruiting international students. UAL is a public research university established in London, England, as The London Institute in 1986. UAL is Europe's largest art, fashion, and design university and is one of the best art and design institutions (QS World University Rankings). Its acceptance rate is around 26%, and tuition for new undergraduates is about $11,680 per year. Notable alumni of the university include Alan Rickman, Bonnie Wright, Florence Welch, Georgia May Jagger, and Sir Quentin Blake. UAL has educated dozens of Oscar, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and Turner Prize winners.
"UAL is 'the world’s biggest factory for making trouble' (Grayson Perry, UAL Chancellor). We are 1 university, made up of 6 Colleges and 19,000+ students from everywhere."
The university is comprised of 6 esteemed colleges that cover more than 40 undergraduate degree programs:
Camberwell College of Arts:
- Computational arts, drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, graphic design, illustration, and interior & spatial design
Central Saint Martins:
- Architecture, ceramic design, culture criticism & curation, graphic communication design, jewelry design, performance: design and practice, product & industrial design, and textile design, multiple fashion communication programs, and multiple fashion design programs
Chelsea College of Arts:
- Fine art, graphic design communication, interior design, product & furniture design, textile design
London College of Communication:
- Advertising, animation, commercial photography, computer animation & visual effects, contemporary media cultures, design for art direction, design for climate justice, film & television, games art, graphic design & identity, journalism, magazine journalism & publishing, music production, public relations, immersive media & mixed reality
London College of Fashion:
- Fashion jewelry, fashion styling & production, psychology of fashion, fashion sportswear, fashion marketing, fashion photography, hair, makeup & prosthetics for performance, costume for performance
Wimbledon College of Arts:
- Acting and performance, contemporary theatre & performance, creative technical theatre, production arts for screen, and theatre design
International Students at UAL
UAL is currently home to over 20,000 students from 130 countries. Current tuition for new international students is around $32,780 per year.
The college is committed to promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion. It has implemented a detailed Anti-Racism policy and has a Religious Observance and Festivals Calendar for all students and staff to view. UAL has also developed a Clash Diary so staff can schedule assignments around religious holidays and festivals. (Student Diversity Page).
The university offers services to help international students and students for whom English is not their first language, such as pre-sessional English courses to assist in English proficiency. UAL is committed to reaching students where they are and plans to host and/or has hosted portfolio
advisory sessions for potential students in South Africa, Canada, Japan,
and several other Asian and European nations. The university has representatives in countries worldwide. International students wishing to speak to someone from UAL can search the Your Country tab and easily find their representative. UAL also hosts virtual events and webinars throughout the year for students interested in attending.
UAL makes great efforts to recruit American students. Its website includes tips on moving to the U.K. and personal stories from students. Click below to discover what studying at UAL is like for students from the United States!
The above video features Megan, a student from the U.S. studying theatre design.
University of the Arts London also aims to recruit students from populous Asian countries like India. The university is currently home to around 300 Indian students. UAL also has a website specifically for Indian students looking to study there.
In this video, Indian students studying in various fields at UAL share their experiences.
UAL has a TikTok account, which it uses to promote students, programs, activities at the college, and life in England. Its profile currently has over 10,000 followers.
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Architecture studio at Cooper Union
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is an all-honors private college on Cooper Square in New York City that cultivates world leaders in art, architecture, and engineering. It is a significantly smaller college than UAL, with 899 enrolled undergraduates. The college was founded by Peter Cooper in 1859 on the idea that all students should have a quality, accessible education.
According to its website,
"Peter Cooper was not a man who engaged in empty rhetoric. He made his school free for the working classes. He took the revolutionary step of opening the school to women as well as men. There was no color bar at Cooper Union. Cooper demanded only a willingness to learn and a commitment to excellence, and in this he manifestly succeeded."
Many notable people have attended classes at Cooper Union, including Albert Einstein, Jeffrey Epstein, Bob Kane (known for co-creating the Batman comics), and Norman Bridwell (known for illustrating Clifford the Big Red Dog).
“The Cooper Union is a highly regarded institution with a public mission to prepare bright, creative, and ambitious students of all backgrounds to apply their talent and expertise to make meaningful contributions to society and the world. All admitted undergraduate students receive a half-tuition scholarship valued at $22,275 per school year." This scholarship is awarded to international students as well. Cooper Union previously awarded full-tuition scholarships to all students but discontinued this practice in 2014.
Cooper Union encompasses 3 colleges in its 3 areas of focus:
The Irwin S. Channin School of Architecture:
- Five years of design, four years of structures, and a thesis
- Bachelor of Architecture
- Master of Science in Architecture
School of Art:
- Drawing, film/video, graphic design, printmaking, photography, painting, and sculpture
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
Albert Nerken School of Engineering:
- Chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering
- Bachelor of Engineering
The largest school at CU is the Albert Nerken School of Engineering, which currently hosts 440 students. All 3 colleges offer a Humanities and Social Sciences minor.
Cooper Union International Students
In 2019, Forbes listed Cooper Union as the 7th top school in the United States for international students. International students compose about 14% of the student population and originate from 30 countries.
The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) is the hub for students from outside the United States. ISSO hosts several events throughout the year for enrolled international students, including a tax workshop, employment workshop, Lunar New Year celebration, and Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Like UAL, Cooper Union is committed to being accessible. "We welcome all students to apply regardless of immigration status. Please note that immigration status is not considered in your application review and decision" (ISSO).
Similarly to UAL, CU has a TikTok profile, where it regularly interviews students, highlights student projects, and shows student life and life in New York.
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