Schooling children overseas has typically been seen as preparation for the real business of returning home to a top university. Looking at foreign higher education was something other countries did, the new powers of China and India, the Asian tigers. Not anymore. In fact, a greater proportion of British students now study for a degree overseas than either, 22,000 in 2010 or 1.7% of the total (compared with 1.4% of Chinese and 1% of Indian students).

In our experience, more expat families are keeping their options open. The British university system, for example, is in a state of flux. Some commentators within independent schools have gone as far as suggesting a 'crisis' as a result of the perceived 'marketisation' of higher education, the introduction of fees, cuts in courses, suggestions of grade inflation and a situation where paying customers - and not quality - is king. Whether there is any truth in this picture or not, global rankings and perceptions reflect the rise of overseas institutions and the increasing levels of investment in university offerings at a time when UK budgets are being cut. Germany, for example, has an €18 billion investment programme in place for science and technology institutions.

Looking at alternative higher education options can offer some real advantages in terms of cost and in providing the kind of international experience which adds an edge to a CV. Maastricht University in the Netherlands has successfully positioned itself as a real alternative for UK students. Most courses and Master's degrees are taught in English and fees are around £1,500. Universities in Milan and Valencia have also begun to be popular options. In general, EU universities offer a good deal with many offering the same fee levels as home students (which can be as low as £200 per year) and British students are legally entitled to find work to support themselves.

More than 9,000 Brits go to the US each year - an expensive option, with the Ivy League charging up to £25,000 - but the system includes many potential scholarships and bursaries. The most popular are the University of Southern California, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Brigham Young University and New York University.

These trends are significant but minor. Britain continues to punch well above its weight on the world stage of education. Not all young people are suited to the demands of settling into a new country away from family, and returning to the UK can be an important way of helping children feel secure and to re-establish their sense of having a home and roots. Family can help with support and with accommodation to mitigate the potentially high fees. Studying at home also provides a more natural route into full-time work when a degree is completed. The new environment for HE will also bring many additional services and benefits as universities vie to compete for students. Just as one example, Coventry University now guarantees levels of contact time with senior academics and industry practitioners in its prospectus, and provides 'welcome packs' which can include anything from core textbooks and equipment to a free laptop.

Another development to consider is the trend for British universities to open campuses overseas. This has primarily been an effort to reach vast new audiences of students in countries like India and China, but the campuses provide opportunities for expats to combine a British-style education in an international location. The University of Nottingham is in Malaysia; Middlesex University is in Dubai and Mauritius.

Gabbitas has been advising parents on school and higher education choices since 1873.
Website:www.gabbitas.co.uk