News

A message of support for our international students

Friday, 09 February 2024
Our Students’ Union officers and senior members of university staff have written to our international students with a message of support following negative stories that have been running in parts of the UK media.

Much of this is based on misleading and exaggerated claims which are resulting in a hostile narrative that has no place in our university or wider community.

At Nottingham we pride ourselves on being one global community where diversity is celebrated and everyone is welcome. Our international student community is valued at UoN and we are here to support you.

It is a brave decision to leave your home, family and friends and choose to study in a new country. Our students come from more than 140 countries around the world and contribute to the cultural and intellectual life of the university and the city, enriching the experience for the whole university community.

It is true that the financial contribution made by overseas students is essential to UK universities. But the value you bring to university life and wider society is so much more than that.

Our overseas campuses in Malaysia and China are also an important part of that global community. And after graduating, all our students continue to be a part of our 320,000-strong University of Nottingham family through an alumni network that stretches to every corner of the globe.

We are working with national sector bodies including the Russell Group and Universities UK to challenge the current negativity and address the inaccuracies, particularly the suggestion that our international students are not as qualified as UK students. This is absolutely not the case.

All our students are the most able, motivated and brilliant individuals and you all deserve your place at the University of Nottingham. You should be proud of what you have achieved.

Working together we are building a more inclusive and thoughtful community, learning from each other, challenging each other and supporting each other to fulfil our potential and realise our ambitions.

We hope you are loving every minute of your time with us and please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any concerns or questions. Alternatively, you may find the following information useful:

With all our best wishes

Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor
Sarah Speight, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience
Jess Nuttall, Union Development Officer
Nicola Maina, International Students’ Officer

Student Communications Officer

Communications and Marketing
University Park Campus
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

telephone:+44 (0)115 82 32353
e: studentcommsoffice@nottingham.ac.uk