UK Universities See Sharp Decline in International Student Applications

Universities in the United Kingdom are witnessing a sharp decline in the number of applications from international students for the next academic year, official data shows.

The Home Office received 28,200 applications for sponsored study visas this June, a nearly 28 percent decrease from last June’s 38,900 applications, Erudera.com reports.

Based on data collected from 31 universities in the United Kingdom, Enroly, a London-based service used to manage student enrollment for higher education institutions, reports a 41 percent drop in deposits and acceptances by international students up to the end of July.

The Guardian reports that postgraduate research courses are more affected, down 55 percent compared to 2023, while the number of undergraduates dropped 23 percent.

UK universities hosted 679,970 international students in the 2021/22 academic year - 120,140 from the EU and 559,825 from elsewhere. The number increased from 254,000 in 2017/18 and from 381,700 in 2020/21.

The government achieved its target of 600,000 international students ten years earlier than planned, and their number has continued to increase since 2020.

Since January 2024, international students in the United Kingdom have been unable to bring dependents to the country while on student visas. These rules apply to most international students, except those enrolled in postgraduate research courses or who hold government-funded scholarships.

“From 1 January 2024, tough government action means most international students can now no longer bring family members to the UK,” the government said.

The decision is part of efforts to reduce net migration and end the abuse of the immigration system. In 2022, student migration to the United Kingdom reached a record high, with more than 484,000 visas being issued.

Enroly’s chief executive, Jeff Williams, told The Guardian that international student enrollment for September has been decreasing since the beginning of this year, adding that UK university colleagues are constantly working to attract more international students to their courses.

Official figures show that during that year, a total of 134,000 visas were issued to student dependents, which is eight times more than in 2019.

According to London Economics analysts, international students contributed £41.9 billion to the UK economy in the 2021/22 academic year, up from £31.3 billion in 2018/19 due to the increase in international student enrollment.

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