Applications from India fell 4% compared to last year to 8,770 (representative)
Amid an ongoing review of post-study work visas and restrictions on dependent portability for government-funded scholarships, official statistics released on Thursday showed signs of Indian students turning away applications to UK universities, with the proportion falling by 4% . Applications from this country.
While figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that the total number of undergraduate international students grew by 0.7%, Nigerian and Indian students are showing a downward trend after recent record growth.
Compared with last year, the number of applications from India fell by 4% to 8,770; the number of applications from Nigeria dropped by 46% from last year to 1,590.
“British higher education remains attractive globally, with a 0.7% increase in international applicants. The highest increases were in China (3%, 910 applicants), Turkey (37%, 710 applicants) and Canada (14%, 710 applicants) 340 applicants)). There were fewer applicants from Nigeria (-46%) and India (-4%),” UCAS figures for this year show.
The fall, which follows a sustained rise, may be due to the Rishi Sunak-led government’s announcement that it is conducting a review of the postgraduate route visa, which gives graduates the opportunity to stay and gain work experience for at least two years after completing their degree.
The independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has been commissioned by the Home Office to review this, commonly known as post-study work visa. Within the student visa category, Indian citizens were the largest group of students allowed to stay on this route, accounting for 43% of those approved last year.
Another factor behind the drop may be restrictions on overseas students bringing dependents or close relatives to the UK on all courses except postgraduate research courses and government-funded scholarship courses, which began last month.
“While today’s data shows a fall in applications from mature students, which will be more pronounced in some subjects such as nursing, we know these applicants are more likely to apply later in the cycle,” chief executive Joe Dr Saxton said UCAS.
“For any students who have missed the deadline or are still undecided on their next step into higher education, they can still apply before 30 June and then apply directly to Clearing and there are still plenty of options. There is plenty of support, guidance, and UCAS The website has tips to help anyone make informed choices about their future,” she said.
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