UK Study Visas Strengthening
It appears that approvals for UK study visas are recovering in 2025. During the first half of the year, sponsored study visa grants increased by 18% versus the previous year.
Overall, this illustrates a dramatic shift from 2024, when study visas plummeted following new rules. Furthermore, current figures are still 52% higher in comparison to pre-COVID levels, signifying resilience.
Dependants Ban Shapes Totals
However, policy changes continue to weigh on overall visa numbers. For instance, since January 2024, only postgraduate research students can bring dependants. As a result, dependant visa grants collapsed by 81% compared with the previous year.
Consequently, total issuances for study visas fell nearly 4% in the year ending June 2025 versus the year before. This contrast highlights the uneven impact of UK immigration rules on international recruitment.
International Student Numbers
Overall, China and India remain the two largest sending markets for UK study visas. Specifically, each country accounted for about 24% of main applicant visas in the year ending June 2025.
In particular, China saw 99,919 visas, while India closely followed with 98,014. Meanwhile, Pakistan added 37,013 visas, representing 9% of the total.
Yet, reliance on these countries remains risky. For example, Nigeria’s numbers dropped sharply after the dependants ban, weakening diversity in the pipeline.
Notably, 14% of non-EU nationals on study visas from 2007-2014 still hold indefinite leave 10 years after. This is according to data from the Migrant Journey: 2024 report. Interestingly, 23% came for work purposes, while 87% arrived for family reasons, in comparison.
UK Study Visas: Recovery
Fortunately, momentum is building. Specifically, visa applications rose 13% in January 2025 compared with January 2024, reaching 28,700.
Furthermore, December 2024 recorded a 169% monthly jump, the strongest surge since July 2022.
Meanwhile, the private sector data reinforces this pattern. For instance, enrollment platform Enroly reported a 27% rise in deposits, while UniQuest confirmed a 31% increase in firm acceptances. Together, these signals suggest renewed student confidence in the UK system.
Policy Strategy for Study Visas
Still, sector leaders argue that stability is essential for the policy on UK study visas. Correspondingly, in 2025, the UK is preparing to release a refreshed international education strategy. This update will build on the 2019 plan that targeted 600,000 international students by 2030.
A recent commission urged policymakers to maintain certainty, especially around the Graduate Route visa. In particular, it also called for better data systems and stronger public messaging about student contributions.
According to the report, “There needs to be a review of the current strategic and regulatory framework.”
“Rather than adding bureaucracy, the focus is on smarter regulation.” (International Higher Education Commission, 2025).
Outlook and Next Steps
Looking ahead, the UK’s ability to sustain growth depends on more than numbers. Notably, it requires diversification of source markets, steady policies on UK study visas, and coordinated messaging.
While main applicant visa approvals are recovering strongly, restrictive rules on dependants remain a major hurdle. As such, transitioning to a sustainable recruitment strategy could determine whether the UK retains its global edge in higher education.
Photo: Freepik
