International Opportunities for UK Education

Global demand for UK education

UK Education is world-leading and world-renowned. From EdTech to English Language Teaching, international demand for the UK’s innovative products and services continues to grow. 

As part of its International Education Strategy, the UK’s Department for Business & Trade (DBT) is helping to deliver the Government’s ambition to ensure education exports reach £35bn by 2030.

DfE Export Data:

Statistics on the estimated revenue generated by education related exports and transnational education (TNE) activity in 2021 can be found here

In markets across the world, DBT is promoting the UK’s world-class education offer and driving demand overseas. Here in the UK, DBT is supporting businesses and providers in the sector to export their products, services, and expertise.

How can I take advantage of international opportunities?
 

• Register now for upcoming trade missions. An excellent opportunity to gain local market knowledge and to meet potential partners or investors.

• Attend DBT’s education webinars. Learn more about where there’s demand for your expertise and how to grow your business in new markets.

• Access local support. UK businesses and providers can get help from International Trade Advisers based in their region. Get in touch with your local trade office to contact an Adviser.

• Use DBT support offers. Find out more about selling overseas with DBT’s country export guides, register for the Export Academy if you are a new exporter, or access financial support from UK Export Finance. Explore DBT support for exporters. 

• Find export opportunities. Explore global opportunities for UK education businesses and providers, sourced by overseas trade professionals or provided by a third party. Visit great.gov's export opportunities.
   

What else is DBT doing to support the sector?

Bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in non-EU countries aim to help UK businesses and providers trade more easily with those markets. You can keep up to date with the status of the UK’s trade agreements and negotiations here.

The UK launched a public consultation for a comprehensive FTA with the Gulf Cooperation Council. The link to the consultation announcement is here.

Separately, the education team here at DBT is working to improve market access outside of FTAs. Contact the education team if you would like to share views on market access barriers: dbt-education@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
 

Please download our recent education newsletter on  FTA's here
 

International Education Champion

To support the delivery of the International Education Strategy, Sir Steve Smith was appointed as the UK International Education Champion and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative to Saudi Arabia for Education.

Support from UK Export Finance (UKEF):

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK government’s export credit agency. Its mission is to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance from the private sector, while operating at no net cost to the taxpayer. It helps UK companies across sectors win, fulfil and get paid for international business by providing guarantees, insurance and loans to support export activities, be they goods or services.

UKEF offers a range of products to support exports, including the General Export Facility (GEF), which provides a partial guarantee to a UK exporter’s bank to help the exporter gain access to trade finance facilities. UKEF’s guarantee can unlock working capital to support business growth by offering:
 

• More flexibility – no need for a facility tied to a specific export contract.
• Greater certainty – non-contract specific facilities allow exporters to focus on their overall growth without worrying whether an export opportunity will be deemed supportable or not.
• Improved accessibility – UKEF has provided delegated authority to participating banks for up to £5 million per UK exporter.

They can also support sovereign buyers and international large corporates with finance, loans and insurance to make their projects happen, provided they commit to procuring from the UK supply chain. UKEF offers competitive terms and provides overseas project sponsors with attractive long-term financing.

You can learn more about their products here

Recently Launched report into Education Opportinities in the US.

DBT Launched its report into opportunities in the Education in the North American market at BETT in March 2022 which can be found here.

Keep up-to date: 

Sign-up to DBT education’s newsletter to receive quarterly updates by contacting DBT-Education@trade.gov.uk

View recent newsletters below:

• DBT Education Quarterly Update - July 2024
• DBT Education Special Edition Newsletter on Free Trade Agreements

Useful Self-Help guide for businesses can be found here
 

Information and Resources

Information and Resources can be found by clicking on the button below.

Education Sector Opportunities:

Our Opportunites can be found by clicking on the button below.

Please see how DBT can help your business to trade internationally by clicking on the button below:

Please view testimonials from UK and Overseas businesses on how DBT provided support to trade internationally or invest into the UK.