New figures released by the Home Office this month show a 16% drop in the number of international students applying for visas to study in the UK this summer.
The data has sparked further concerns within the higher education sector about the increasing financial pressures many UK universities are currently facing. Most higher education institutions in the UK rely heavily on the revenue generated by international students, who pay higher fees to study here compared to domestic students.
The drop in sponsored study visa applications observed this year is believed to be a direct result of immigration policy changes that were introduced by the previous Conservative government.
Since January 2024, international students have been prevented from bringing dependants with them to the UK, except for some main applicants who are studying postgraduate research courses or courses with government-funded scholarships.
What do the figures say?
In January to September 2024, there were 350,700 applications from ‘sponsored study’ visa main applicants, 16% lower than in the same period last year.
The number of monthly applications for Student visas typically peak between July and September before the start of the academic year. Between July and September 2024 there were 49,000 (16%) fewer applications from main applicants, compared to the same 3 months in 2023.
The figures also show an 85% drop in applications from student dependants compared to the previous year, with just 17,800 dependant applications between January and September 2024. This dramatic decline appears to directly correlate with the rule changes that came into effect in January.
Next steps
A decline in international students coming to the UK is not only bad news for universities, but the wider economy could also feel the impact. Overseas nationals studying in the UK contribute billions to the economy each year, and many also go on to enter the workforce after completing their studies under the Graduate or Skilled Worker route.
Experts warn that the UK’s stricter rules on student visas could threaten its position as a top global study destination, and industry bodies have called on the current Labour government to lift visa restrictions imposed by the Conservatives as a first step towards stabilising struggling British universities.
The Universities and College Union (UCU) recently called for government bailouts for higher education institutions facing financial pressures, although this was flatly rejected by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who stated that universities are expected to manage their own budgets as independent institutions. However, tuition fees for domestic students are expected to rise within the next 5 years, which could go some way towards supporting struggling universities.
The government has so far made no suggestion that it will reverse the curbs on dependant visas, and Universities may find international student recruitment more challenging in the next academic year as a result.
For more information on student visas or sponsoring overseas students, please contact Smith Stone Walters.