Recent Home Office statistics reveal a notable decrease in the number of Indian students applying for higher education in the UK, amidst stricter migration regulations. Data up to June 2024 indicates a 23 percent drop in Indian student visa grants, despite Indians continuing to top the list of student visa approvals.
According to the latest figures, there were 110,006 sponsored study visa grants to Indian nationals in the year ending June 2024, representing 25 percent of the total, but marking a decrease of 32,687 from the previous year. This decline is attributed to the recent tightening of rules regarding the right of student visa holders to bring dependent family members, which came into effect earlier this year.
The statistics highlight a significant trend: while Indian and Nigerian nationals contributed most to the increase in foreign students from 2019 to 2023, both groups have seen substantial declines in the latest year—by 23 percent for Indians and 46 percent for Nigerians.
Indian students remain the largest group granted leave to remain on the Graduate Route visa, which allows them to work in the UK for up to two years post-graduation. In the year ending June 2024, 67,529 Indian nationals received this visa, making up nearly 46 percent of all Graduate Route extensions. Despite this, the overall decrease in student numbers is causing concern among UK universities, which heavily rely on the higher fees paid by international students to alleviate financial pressures.
The National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK attributes the decline in part to the uncertainty surrounding the Graduate Route visa review, which concluded in May that the visa would not be discontinued. Sanam Arora, Chair of NISAU UK, stressed the importance of reassuring Indian students about the UK’s commitment to being a welcoming destination.
Additionally, Indians continued to lead in the UK Visitor Visa categories, accounting for 25 percent of grants, followed closely by Chinese nationals at 24 percent. The data also reflects broader immigration trends, with reduced numbers of foreign workers, including Indians, due to increased minimum income thresholds and restrictions on dependents under the Health and Care Visa—a policy shift initially implemented by the previous Conservative government and retained by the current Labour administration.
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