Recent data indicates that fewer foreign students were requesting permits to study in the UK this summer.
According to data from the Home Office, 16% fewer visa applications were filed between July and September than there were in 2023.
In the meantime, once a rule change implemented by the previous government went into force in January, the number of visa applications for students families fell by 89%.
The numbers have increased industry anxiety about the financial stability of UK universities many of which rely significantly on tuition from overseas students.
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Applications for sponsored study visas were 263,400 between July and September, according to the Home Office a decrease from 312,500 in the summer of 2023.
Dependents of international students submitted just 6,700 applications within that same period compared to 59,900 the previous year.
Except for those enrolled in research-based programs or receiving government-funded scholarships, international students are not permitted to bring family members to reside with them in the UK as of January 1.
The government of Rishi Sunak, which was committed to reducing immigration, implemented the rule last year.
Extremely Challenging:
A few in the industry have issued warnings claiming that fewer foreign students will worsen the financial situation facing UK universities.
The data indicated that student recruitment remains extremely challenging and that the UK’s position as a top study destination is under threat, according to Universities UK, an organization that represents 140 institutions.
The figures confirm our fear that the previous government’s changes have made the UK a less attractive study destination, according to Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) think tank.
The University and College Union (UCU) general secretary, Jo Grady recently demanded government assistance for financially troubled campuses.
As a first step towards stabilizing our universities and reconstructing Britain, she called for the future Labour government to lift Tory visa restrictions.
The government values the contribution legal migration makes to our country but it must be controlled and delivered through a fair system, a Home Office spokesperson stated.
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