University of York to accept some overseas students with lower grades

Central Hall at the University of York. British universities increasingly rely on income from lucrative international student fees. Photograph: Andrew Briggs/Alamy

The University of York has told staff to take a “more flexible approach” to admitting overseas students with lower-than-expected grades, in the latest sign that UK higher education is facing severe recruitment and financial pressures.

Staff at the Russell Group university were told: “In response to the current financial challenges, the university has decided to lower its tariff for all departments and programmes for overseas applicants,” according to an email reported by the Financial Times.