In 2024, the UK’s Higher Education sector experienced a 14% drop in the number of sponsored study visas granted to international students compared to the year before. This decline is mainly due to the dependents ban implemented in January 2024, which prohibits international students from bringing their families to the UK during their studies.
The most recent figures from the UK’s Home Office indicate that 393,125 sponsored study visas were granted to main applicants in 2024, marking a decline from the 457,115 visas granted in 2023.
The dependents ban has affected specific major markets, especially Nigeria, India, and Bangladesh. The quantity of visas granted to Nigerian students fell by 55%, whereas Indian students experienced a 26% drop. In comparison, Chinese students faced a comparatively slight 6% decline.
These modifications have led to China reclaiming its status as the leading international student source nation for UK educators, overtaking India, which had maintained the top position for the last two years.
The drop in Nigerian students has resulted in Pakistan surpassing Nigeria as the UK’s third-biggest student market. The growing interest in UK education among Pakistanis has been fueled by a rise in the number of visas granted to Pakistani students for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
Nepal has also become an important market, showing a 44% rise in visa issuances in 2024 compared to the year before. Nepal currently ranks as the third-largest market for undergraduate students in the UK and the sixth-largest overall.
Other non-EU markets have likewise seen decreases in study visa approvals. Malaysia, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and Bangladesh have experienced notable decreases, with Bangladesh’s drop possibly connected to the dependents ban.
The decrease in demand from Malaysia and Hong Kong could be linked to the emergence of other attractive locations in Asia, along with the aspirations of Malaysia and Hong Kong to establish themselves as educational centers in the region.
Universities UK has indicated that there has been a decline in Malaysian interest in recent years, both for studying in the UK and for pursuing education in Malaysia through UK transnational education agreements. At the same time, Malaysia intends to draw 250,000 international students by the year 2025.
The Higher Education sector in the UK is encountering considerable difficulties in drawing international students, especially from major markets such as India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. The dependents ban has significantly affected these markets, resulting in a decrease in the number of sponsored study visas granted in 2024.
As UK universities respond to these changes, they need to adjust their approaches to draw students from diverse markets and create inventive solutions to assist international students and their families.
