Maidstone, Kent -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/30/2012 -- Anthony Seldon, head of Wellington College in Berkshire predicts that within four years, a quarter of sixth formers at a leading UK independent school will be heading for universities in the United States of America.

Dr. Seldon, one of the UK's most prominent head teachers, says that ambitious teenagers are looking further afield than ever before in their university choices. At a recent talk with pupils, he said that about 40% claimed to want to go to US universities, with the expectation that many of these will actually go on to enrol. Managing Director of Maidstone based professional fundraisers Evo Promotions had this to say on the subject “students travelling to foreign countries for university can have a positive effect on the person and broaden their horizons.”

The introduction of higher tuition fees at UK universities, up to £9,000 per year, is pushing students to think much harder about their options. It's also changing the balance of what is affordable. “While there are positive points, there are also the negative effects” says Evo Promotions “the UK education system will feel the impact of this, universities are going to have to take more care about what they're offering to students”.

Harvard spokesman Jeff Neal says the university has seen growing numbers of students from the UK and that families with "low and middle incomes will likely pay no more to send their students to Harvard than to a UK university".

"Tuition fees and the lack of availability of places at UK universities seems to be the main reason" says Evo Promotions.

When ministers in London announced plans to encourage more competition in the university system, the expectation was that overseas institutions would set up in the UK. Instead it seems that students are heading in the opposite direction. “It’s a trend we here at Evo Promotions have noticed too” states Evo Promotions’ Managing Director. It's not just US universities who are recruiting. Continental European universities are offering courses taught in English, with low or no tuition fees. Dutch universities, such as Utrecht, are touring schools in London and inviting applications. Maastricht has said it would like to become part of the Ucas admissions system.

Evo Promotions concludes “As the numbers rising is a recent trend, we shall have to wait to see if this will be good or bad overall”.