If 18 out of 24 Russell Group universities now accept a 2:2 to enrol for a postgraduate programme, what hope is there for the rest of the sector?

This is prompted by an excellent article in Times Higher Education (15th April 2026) on the prospects for international student growth - or rather the likelihood that we have now passed peak international.

Just as many Russell Group universities have lowered their UG entry requirements to hoover up more volume, so it has become obvious that they are repeating this tactic with prospective international master's students, who make up the majority on so many courses.

It’s time for the rest of the sector to compete in areas where they are traditionally more innovative - notably employability / internships / placements and other forms of work experience.

It’s not the time to reduce headline prices, increase bursaries or agent commission levels - which as the article points out, are often now eliminating the margin advantage that international fees have previously delivered.