Drop in foreign student visas worrying for universities

The number of international students applying for visas to study in the United Kingdom dropped this summer, according to new figures, writes Nathan Standley for BBC News.

Home Office figures showed 16% fewer visa applications were made between July and September than in the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, the number of visa applications for family members of students dropped by 89%, after a rule change introduced by the previous government came into effect in January.

The figures have prompted further concern within the sector over the financial health of UK universities, many of which depend heavily on international student fees. Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute think tank, said the numbers “confirm our fear that the previous government’s changes have made the UK a less attractive study destination” while a Home Office spokesperson said the government “values the contribution legal migration makes to our country, but it must be controlled and delivered through a fair system”.
Full report on the BBC News site