The latest data highlights a concerning trend for UK universities, revealing a notable decline in the enrollment of international students for postgraduate courses. Comparing January 2024 to the same period in 2023, there has been a significant 37 percent reduction in offers extended to international postgraduate students by UK universities.
The substantial drop in interest among Nigerian students is of particular concern. There is a staggering 70 percent decrease in those seeking postgraduate education in the UK during January 2024 compared to January 2023. Similar declines are observed among students from other countries such as Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh, with decreases of 53 percent, 32 percent, and 42 percent, respectively.
This decline comes after a period of significant growth in international student numbers, which saw a 36 percent increase from the academic session of 2018–19, when 500,000 international students were enrolled in UK higher education institutions.
The decrease in international student enrollment coincides with the implementation of new regulations by the UK government last summer. These regulations include restrictions on international students bringing their family members to the UK under their student visa, unless they are engaged in research postgraduate programs. The aim of these restrictions is to control net migration while acknowledging the positive contributions international students make to the country. However, despite these efforts, levels of immigration in the UK have risen since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), net migration stood at 672,000 between June 2022 and June 2023. Additionally, there has been a significant increase in the issuance of visas to student dependents. A 930 percent rise is recorded in September 2023 compared to the same period in 2019, totaling 152,980 visas issued.
