A-levels and Brexit:
The future of British education

Undeniably, the topic of Brexit has been dominating politics since the referendum announcement in 2016. Because of the many drawbacks of making deals and global pandemics, the official leaving date for the UK was pushed back till January 2020.

Many modifications were made throughout these years that made the leaving process more seamless and less destructive. However, that has led to an abundance of unanswered questions in various topics such as A-Levels.

The concerns based around A-Levels for international students are immense. As there’s such a variety, we’ll be addressing the main matters and how these will affect the future of British education.

Will A-Levels Be Affected by Brexit?

International A-Levels students are an integral part of the United Kingdom’s economy. Apart from revenue benefits, they enrich campuses, allow cultural diversity, and help build overseas relationships. However, has this changed after Brexit, and does the education system look different?

CONTENTS

ACCESIBILITY

Undoubtedly, the most considerable concern that many are worried about is accessibility. The primary reason for Brexit was for the UK to gain more control over their border. With this power, they can control immigration easier from their regulations.

However, this doesn’t mean they’re eliminating international students from entering the country and achieving A-Levels. But what it’s indicating is that it’s somewhat harder to obtain a pre-settled or settled status that allows someone to learn and have access to healthcare in the UK.

A deal was made between the EU and UK through a settlement scheme before Brexit. The scheme allowed non-UK residence from the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland to come (or stay) without applying for a Visa. But this scheme quickly ended on the 30 th of June 2021.

Now, a student will need to apply for a UK visa which does require various mandated requirements such as:

• Adequate money to support themselves
• Enough funds to pay for the course(s) – Or a licensed student sponsor
• 16 years of age or older
• Speak basic English

Notably, you don’t need a visa to study for an A-Level course shorter than six months. The only obligation is that you’re studying at an accredited institution.

Although international students can still attend A-Level Studies, it’s considerably more challenging than ever. But accessibility wasn’t the only concern. Therefore, let’s look at the costs now associated with this type of schooling.

COSTS

Including the above costs is another fear that’s linked to international students. Although the physical costs of an A-Level course will remain the same (plus inflation), they’ll be more fees connected with overseas students.


The main two are the Visa fees and the uncertainty of employment. The application costs of a UK visa can range massively. Prices can fluctuate depending on the individual situation, but these can cost anywhere between 118 to 1,018 euros.


Additionally, they might want to have a part-time employment role to support their out-of-school lifestyle. Without a permanent residency, it can showcase some issues when applying for a job role. Many businesses look for permanent residency to ensure a stable company. Failing to meet this requirement could showcase when trying to find a job role.

There are some extra costs that an international student can now enter after Brexit. Although these might not seem significant (depending on your situation), it’s undoubtedly still a concern with many overseas parents or students.

CREDITABILITY

The UK’s departure from the EU has left people worried about the creditability of A-Level certificates. Its been a concern for many entering or considering participating in this type of education who are international citizens.

However, despite Brexit, the creditability of A-Levels will remain the same. The recognition of these qualifications is overseen by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and Bologna Process, which they’ve stated that there won’t be any changes in its value.

To conclude this, an A-Level qualification will still be recognised worldwide as a “gold-standard” United Kingdom education today and well into the future. Because of this, A-Level certificates are more than worth obtaining as their value is considered superior globally.

STAFFING

Various EU teachers are required in the UK because of compacity, specialities, and much more. But, with the new rules and regulations in place for pre-settled or settled statuses, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult for overseas teachers to work in the UK.

In 2019, the UK felt the pressure of losing many EU workers. It occurred in many industries, but learning was undoubtedly the most worrying. This year alone (pre-Brexit), they saw a decrease in applicants for language teaching by 25%. Considering this was only one of the many topics available
for A-Levels, it’s a substantial amount.

The drop in applicants was because of the requirements needed for a working Visa. They must have a specific amount of money, earn enough, be employed by a licensed employee, and fulfil many more obligations. Combining all these, many EU teaching professionals have looked elsewhere.

When thinking about the above, the quality of teaching within A-Levels could drop. Non-UK teachers play a significant role within the education structure. If this continues to drop further, an increase of pupils per class will become apparent, and teachers’ value could decrease.

CONCLUSION

After reading the above, you should have a more comprehensive idea about how the education system will change in the future for international A-Level students. Although it’s still achievable for many, the UK has undoubtedly made it more difficult. Additionally, fewer student sponsors are also
being offered because of the mandated requirements a student must fulfil.


After reviewing the above and combining the evidence, we recommend contacting us. W’re an International Academy that offers A-Level courses in Europe and online. Throughout the 20+ years of doing this, we’ve helped thousands of inspiring young individuals achieve A-Levels, along with getting them into their chosen university.


If you’re interested in our services, feel free to enter your information here, and a helpful representative will contact back regarding your request.

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