A Department for Education research report published on 28 October 2026 examines what influences student demand for higher education in England and how responsive that demand is to price changes. The study is aimed at understanding the decisions students make about whether to study in England and how those choices vary across different levels of study and provider types.
Key facts
- The report is titled Demand determinants and elasticities for English higher education: International student model.
- It was published by the Department for Education on 28 October 2026.
- The research looks at tuition fees, visa policies, student finance arrangements, exchange rates and wider economic conditions.
- It also examines how sensitive demand for higher education is to price changes.
- The report says price sensitivity varies across levels of study and different types of higher education provider.
What does this mean for international students and universities in England?
The report is relevant to international students considering higher education in England and to universities and other providers that depend on student demand. Its focus on tuition fees, visa policy, finance arrangements and exchange rates points to the main pressures that can affect whether students choose England over other destinations.
For providers, the research highlights that demand does not move uniformly. Sensitivity to price differs by level of study and by provider type, which means the impact of any change in fees or related conditions may not be the same across the sector.
What does the research examine?
The report looks at the factors influencing students’ decisions to study in England. It identifies tuition fees, visa policies, student finance arrangements, exchange rates and wider economic conditions as the main elements considered in the analysis.
It also studies the price elasticity of demand for higher education, which is a measure of how strongly demand changes when prices change.
How does price sensitivity vary?
The research says demand for higher education in England is sensitive to price, but not in a single, uniform way. The level of study matters, and so does the type of higher education provider.
That means the likely effect of fee changes or other cost pressures may differ depending on who is studying, what they are studying and where they are studying.
What the report is for
The publication provides evidence for understanding international student demand for English higher education. By setting out the determinants of demand and the elasticity of that demand, it offers a framework for assessing how policy and market conditions may shape recruitment and participation.
The report is published as a Department for Education research and analysis document and applies to England.
