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UK sees 14% decline in international student visa applications

by DD Staff

January 14, 2025

UK sees 14% decline in international student visa applications

key takeaways

According to U.K. Home Office data, the country had a 14% drop in international student visa applications last year compared to 2023.

A notable 20% decline in total international postgraduate enrollments for the 2024–2025 academic year was noted in the report, which was made public last week. According to PIE News, the biggest drops were seen among candidates from Pakistan (31%), India (34%), and Nigeria (65%).

Andrew Bird, chair of the British Universities and International Students Association (BUILA), attributed the downturn to recent turbulent years that have created "uncertainty" among prospective international students. Bird warned that this uncertainty could tarnish the U.K.'s reputation as a premier study destination.

Policy changes in recent years, including restrictions on dependents, have also impacted visa application numbers. The data showed an 84% reduction in applications from dependents following a January 2024 ban that limited family members from accompanying all but postgraduate research students to the U.K.

The decline in enrollments is expected to affect postgraduate programs significantly, with international students comprising 71% of all full-time postgraduate students during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Despite the recent downturn, U.K. higher education institutions had previously surpassed their international student targets a decade ahead of schedule, hosting over 600,000 international students in the 2020-2021 academic year, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.