The financial pressures on universities could negatively impact communities with high student populations like Jesmond, a Newcastle University academic has warned.

“We have seen far fewer international students coming into the UK,” Nick Rush-Cooper, the degree programme director for Digital Cultures and Media at Newcastle University, told JesmondLocal. “Changes to international visa rules and the wider immigration rhetoric from the government have made studying in the UK an unattractive prospect.”

The UK has seen a 17% decrease in applications for study visas in 2024 compared to 2023, according to Home Office figures. One reason is that since 1 January 2024, international students have no longer been able to bring their families with them to the UK. The drop in applications means nearly three-quarters of higher education institutions in England could be in deficit by 2025-26, even after the government’s proposed rise in the undergraduate student fee cap, an Office for Students analysis has suggested.

Newcastle University, for example, says it is facing a £35 million shortfall in income this year due to a decline in International enrolments. Earlier this year, Northumbria University announced it would cut its staffing budget by £12.5m.

Rush-Cooper voiced his concern that fewer students coming to Newcastle would put “communities like Jesmond at risk as the area is built upon two key regional universities in the city, and its consumption is geared towards students”. According to UCAS, Newcastle has a student population of around 42,000, with most living in the areas of Jesmond, Heaton, Sandyford and Ouseburn.

Businesses and venues in Jesmond are beginning to voice concern too, about the impact that lower student numbers might have on their sales. “Between 70-80% of our customers are students,” said Will Hemy, manager of Hüs, a family-run bar operating on Osborne Road.

Fewer students living in Jesmond “could mean that only the bigger fish survive”, he said. “Pubs are an important aspect of Jesmond’s identity. These spaces, where people regularly return, could be under threat if the hospitality industry finds itself with less custom. There’s also the matter of the community attached to the hospitality sector that’s important to consider.

“But on the flip side, fewer students in Jesmond may draw more of the permanent residents back to Osborne Road.”

In some cases, universities are looking to cut costs by shutting down less popular degree programmes. For example, Newcastle University’s Digital Cultures and Media BA is being discontinued from next year. Around 20 students, who started their studies in 2022, are currently enrolled. The university said it hopes to integrate some of the teaching and modules into other similar courses, such as Media, Communication and Cultural Studies.

Katie Clement, a Jesmond resident and student on the course, told JesmondLocal: “There are very few digital culture degrees in the country, that’s why this course is so unique. You can pick certain modules that tailor towards your specific interests. I feel like the module leaders know me and my skill set, and they care about my future, I’ll be sad to see this course go.”