Nine UK universities that rely on Chinese students for a FIFTH of their income

Nine universities in the UK rely on Chinese student for more than a fifth of their total tuition income, it has been revealed.

The startling numbers come as ministers brace themselves for a reduction in the 120,000 Chinese students on British soil next year as tensions rise with Beijing.

This morning, China warned British businesses 'retaliation is coming' and they could be 'in the firing line' after the UK banned Huawei from the nation's 5G network.

Ministers fear a retaliation in the education sector as well, with less Chinese students expected to join British universities next year.

New data shows the extent to which universities across the country are reliant on Chinese students, with the University of Glasgow topping the league table.

Nine universities in the UK rely on Chinese student for more than 20 per cent of their total tuition income, it has been revealed. Pictured: the University of Glasgow is most proportionally reliant, with a staggering 31 per cent of all tuition fees coming from students from the Asian country

The University of Liverpool relies on Chinese students for 29 per cent of its tuition fees, making an estimated £89million in income from Chinese students

New data shows the extent to which universities across the country are reliant on Chinese students (stock photo)

The UK has more Chinese students than any other country and they account for £1.7billion in tuition fees every year.

University College London tops the list as the university taking in the most income from Chinese students at £127million, followed by the University of Manchester at £110million.

But in terms of the proportion of tuition income paid by Chinese students, the University of Glasgow is most reliant, with a staggering 31 per cent of all tuition fees coming from students from the Asian country.

The University of Liverpool follows closely at 29 per cent, while the University of Sheffield comes in at third with 26 per cent.

University College London tops the list as the university taking in the most income from Chinese students at £127million. Pictured: The university's Pearson building

The top ten universities that rely most on Chinese students 1) University of Glasgow 31% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students £70million estimated income from Chinese students 10% of students from China 2) University of Liverpool 29% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students £89million estimated income from Chinese students 19% of students from China 3) University of Sheffield 26% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students £85million estimated income from Chinese students 16% of students from China 4) Imperial College London 23% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students £73million estimated income from Chinese students 14% of students from China 5) University of Manchester 23% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students £110million estimated income from Chinese students 14% of students from China 6) University College London 23% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students £127million estimated income from Chinese students 15% of students from China 7) University of Warwick 22% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students £76million estimated income from Chinese students 12% of students from China 8) University of Birmingham 22% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students £77million estimated income from Chinese students 12% of students from China 9) Edinburgh 20% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students £71million estimated income from Chinese students 10% of students from China 10) Leeds 19% of total tuition income paid by Chinese students £77million estimated income from Chinese students 11% of students from China Source: The Sunday Times Advertisement

Imperial College London, the University of Manchester and University College London make up the next three down the table, all relying on Chinese students for 23 per cent of their income.

The Universities of Warwick and Birmingham both rely on Chinese students for 20 per cent of their tuition income.

And the University of Leeds is the tenth most reliant university, taking in 19 per cent of its tuition fess from Chinese students.

A minister told The Sunday Times last week that officials were 's******g themselves' at the prospect of less Chinese students joining British universities.

The UK has more Chinese students than any other country and they account for £1.7billion in tuition fees every year

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said: 'Not only are university finances threatened by the withdrawal of Chinese investment.

'It also means they would struggle to pay for research, which is a fundamental part of what makes our universities so attractive.'

The threat of Chinese withdrawal of investment in British universities' research comes after it emerged that Beijing could target British businesses operating in China today.

Leaders of UK businesses in Beijing were summoned to a meeting where they were apparently told by a Chinese government official that their operations could suffer because of growing tensions with Britain.

It is thought some of the UK's biggest companies on the world stage like Jaguar Land Rover, BP and GlaxoSmithKline could all be targeted.

Liu Xiaoming, China's Ambassador to the UK, said last week that Chinese businesses could pull out of Britain following the Huawei decision.

He said 'the way you treat Huawei will be followed very closely by other Chinese businesses' and that the decision had 'undermined the trust between the two countries'.

The move comes after ministers announced last week that Huaweii was being excluded from British 5G infrastructure, with all of its equipment to be stripped out by 2027 over security concerns.