On 1 January 2024, the requirements for the student visa for the UK were tightened. As a result, the number of applications from India and Nigeria decreased dramatically. China, on the other hand, has become the country with the highest number of applications for UK study visas.
Popularity of the UK among students
The UK boasts some of the best and most famous universities in the world. According to the QS World University Ranking, in 2025, four English universities are among the top 10 universities in the world. Imperial College London is number two, Oxford University is number three, Cambridge University is number five and University College London is number nine.
Which are the favourite countries for international students?
Accordint to the Institute of International Education, in 2023, the UK was one of the most popular destinations for international students from all over the world. The majority of students, i.e. approximately 1.05 million students went to the United States, followed by the UK with 718,000 students. Most of them came from China, India and Nigeria.
What requirements have been changed?
From 1 January 2024, only students on postgraduate courses are allowed to bring their family members (partner or children) to the UK. These are students who, after completing a Master's degree, wish to continue their studies. This group of students is, however, much smaller than the undergraduate and Master's students. Previously, it was easy to apply for a partner and children's visa alongside the student visa.
What has changed with the new policy?
The total number of study visas granted decreased by 31%. In 2024 it was around 600,000, while in 2023 it was around 415,000. The countries with the largest declines in applications were India and Nigeria. Since the policy change, Pakistan has overtaken Nigeria, and is now the country with the third highest number of applications.
Loss of revenue for the UK
The UK government has announced its intention to reduce the number of immigrants, which seems to be out of control. On the other hand, some regions of the UK are partly dependent on income from international students. This is the case in Coventry in the West Midlands, whose universities have a relatively high percentage of international students. Students from other countries pay much higher tuition fees and therefore make a significant contribution to the funding of both UK universities and the local economy. Estate agents in the Coventry area are already reporting that landlords are putting their properties up for sale due to the decline in the number of international students. In addition, the possible use of student houses as ordinary rental properties is also being discussed.
The consequences of this policy tightening are unknown
It is not yet clear what the long-term impact of this policy change will be. As of 5 July 2024, the UK has a new government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The new education minister, Bridget Phillipson, says she wants to make the UK a more attractive destination for international students. However, so far no policy changes have been announced.
ETA UK
It is not always necessary to apply for a UK student visa. Depending on the duration and purpose of the intended travel, the electronic travel authorisation or ETA can be enough.
Travelling to the UK for a holiday, short-term study or to visit friends and family for up to six months? You will soon be able to easily apply for an ETA visa through this website.