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New study visa rules in 2024 have led to a significant decrease in the number of applications from foreign students and dependents in the United Kingdom. The number of applications from study visa main applicants in the fiscal year ending January 2025 was 411,100, which was 13% lower than in the previous year. Alarmingly, there were 21,500 applications from dependants of students in the year ending January 2025, 84% fewer than the year ending January 2024.
The UK Home Office released preliminary figures showing the number of international students who entered the United Kingdom to pursue their education in 2024. The trend shows a smaller number of international students enrolled to study in the UK in 2024.
The significant decrease in interest indicated by overseas students could be attributed to rule changes that went into effect in January 2024, which prohibit students from bringing dependents, except those doing postgraduate research courses or courses with government-funded scholarships.
There were 392,969 sponsored study visas granted to foreign students in the year ending September 2024, 19% fewer than the previous year but 46% higher than 2019. In the year ending September 202,4 there were 46,961 visas issued to student dependants, 69% fewer than the previous year but almost 3 times higher than in 2019. Further, nearly two-thirds (61%) of student visas in the latest year were for masters level courses.
Monthly applications for ‘Sponsored study’ visas, January 2022 to January 2025
Most of the increase in foreign students between 2019 and 2023 were from Indian and Nigerian nationals, but numbers for these nationalities have fallen in the year ending September 2024 (by 31% and 62% respectively). Indian nationals accounted for the highest number of sponsored study visas granted each year between September 2022 and June 2024.
In the year ending September 2024, 35,069 main applicants were granted an extension of their stay in the UK, allowing them to continue, or switch to a sponsored study route. This reflects a 37% decrease compared with the year ending September 2023.
3 new rules for international students
• Removing the right for international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes.
• Removing the ability for international students to switch out of the student route into work routes before their studies have been completed.
• Reviewing the maintenance requirements for students and dependants.
Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/business/investing-abroad-new-uk-visa-regulations-lead-to-sharp-decrease-in-study-visa-and-dependent-applications-3756473/
