The Home Office figures, released on January 9, support the findings of BUILA’s new survey of 70 UK institutions, 80% of whom reported a decrease in postgraduate enrolments from international students in 2024/25.
Overall international enrolment has declined by 20% during this time, with the greatest reductions in postgraduate applications from Nigeria (-65%), India (-34%) and Pakistan (-31%), the survey found.
Responding to the data, BUILA chair Andrew Bird called for a period of policy stability after a “turbulent few years” which “created uncertainty amongst overseas students” and risked the UK’s position as a “world-leading study destination”.
“BUILA welcomes the government’s rhetoric which has strongly valued international students and the massive cultural contributions they bring.
“We look forward to working with it to ensure a period of policy stability which supports the sector to make long-term sustainable plans for the future,” said Bird.
Notably, the Home Office data revealed an 84% drop in applications from dependants, following the dependants ban implemented by the previous government in January 2024 which prevented all but postgraduate research students bringing family members to the UK.
Monthly applications for sponsored study visas, January 2022 to December 2024:
The decline in enrolments will be of particular consequence for postgraduate courses, with international students accounting for 71% of all full-time postgraduate students in the UK in 2022/23, compared to just 17% of undergraduate students and 26% of all enrolments.
Following last year’s dependants ban, the attractiveness of the UK was further damaged by the government’s review of the Graduate Route and negative messaging surrounding migration and international students.
Upon entering office in July 2024, the current Labour government has reiterated its commitment to welcoming international students.
“What we had under the Conservatives was a fascination and fixation with picking fights with the sector completely needlessly, just using universities as a source of cheap headlines. That is now at an end,” said education secretary Bridget Philipson.
The latest figures from BUILA and the Home Office follows more positive trends indicated by UniQuest student engagement specialist which discovered an 31% growth in international student acceptances – rather than applications – for January 2025.
