With fierce competition and rising tuition fees, the UK is struggling to hang onto its student population as prospective undergraduates are being advised to look overseas as an alternative to studying at home.

210,000 students failed get a place at a UK university in 2010. This increasing competitiveness of UK university entrance is forcing students to consider the alternatives.  And with annual tuition fees rocketing to up to £9,000 from 2012 the value of a British higher education has been thrown under serious scrutiny.

The Emirates stadium in London was host to the first ever Student World Fair (SWF) this weekend. Students were introduced to higher education institutions from around the world and shown the opportunities to study English speaking courses in destinations as diverse as the USA, Holland, Canada, Australia and France.

According to statistics published by the SWF, 35% of UK students aged 16-19 think it is more expensive to study abroad. The SWF hoped to dispel that myth by demonstrating that some of their exhibitors offer degrees starting from as little as £1,500 per year.

Although the UK remains a popular destination for overseas students, one of the UK’s most popular international schools, ACS International Schools (ACS), has highlighted the concerns of admissions officers at UK institutions over the future of applicant numbers.

According to their annual research amongst university admission officers, in advance of the application cycle this autumn and winter, ACS have found that while 79% of UK admissions officers reported an increase in applicant numbers last year, only a quarter, 24% are expecting to see a continuing increase in applicant numbers in this new application cycle, the first with the higher tuition fees.

This uncertainty from British admissions officers is in marked contrast to their counterparts in the US where tuition fees are typically higher than the UK’s will be, and yet the majority, 80% of American admissions officers are confidently predicting an increase in student numbers next year.

And the appeal of US universities has not gone unnoticed by some of the UK’s most notable independent schools either. Wellington College held a conference last month to help students, parents and staff to understand the American University system, offering help and advice on the application process.

Commenting on the ACS report findings Fergus Rose of ACS International Schools said, “The next application cycle will be an interesting one as we see what impact increased tuition fees at English universities will have, and whether admissions officers’ prediction of a sharp decline in student applicants actually occurs.

“What remains the case however is that top institutions will continue looking beyond applicants’ predicted grades at their passion for their chosen subject and their aptitude across a wide range of life skills.”