- UK student visa applications dropped 16% this summer
- 89% decline in visas for students’ family members
- Concerns over UK universities’ financial stability
According to recent data, overseas students seeking permits to study in the United Kingdom decreased this summer.
According to Home Office estimates, 16% fewer visa applications were submitted between July and September than in the same period in 2023.
Meanwhile, the number of visa applications for students’ family members fell by 89% after the previous government’s rule change took effect in January.
The statistics have raised fresh concerns about the financial health of UK universities, many of which rely primarily on international student fees.
The Home Office reported that 263,400 sponsored study visa applications were received between July and September, down from 312,500 in the summer of 2023.
Dependants of international students submitted only 6,700 applications during the same period, a decrease from 59,900 the previous year.
Since January, international students have been prohibited from bringing family members to reside with them in the UK, except those enrolled in research-based courses or receiving government subsidies.
Rishi Sunak’s ministry implemented the rule last year, which was committed to reducing immigration numbers.
‘Very tough’
Some in the sector have cautioned that fewer international students may exacerbate the UK’s university funding crisis.
According to Universities UK, which represents 140 institutions, the numbers reveal that student recruitment “remains very challenging” and that “the UK’s position as a top study destination is under threat.”
Start your investing journey with a gift! Claim your free Webull shares
According to Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), the figures “confirm our fear that the previous government’s changes have made the UK a less attractive study destination.”
Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), recently called for government bailouts for financially struggling campuses.
She said the new Labour government should eliminate Tory visa restrictions as a first step toward stabilizing our universities and rebuilding Britain.
A Home Office spokeswoman stated that the government recognizes legal migration’s contribution to our country, but it must be controlled and provided relatively.
