Student visa data highlight UK¡¯s dependence on China

The growing dependency of UK higher education on China as its main source of international students has been highlighted in 바카라사이트 latest government immigration statistics.

According to 바카라사이트 data, , 바카라사이트 number of study visas granted to Chinese students rose 10 per cent to 77,290 in 바카라사이트 year to March 2017. This represented 37 per cent of all study visas granted to students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union over 바카라사이트 period.

Delving deeper into 바카라사이트 statistics release reveals just what a dramatic turnaround this represents compared with about 10 years ago, when India was a dominant source of non-EU students.?

This change has been attributed to 바카라사이트 shift in visa policies by 바카라사이트 UK government, particularly 바카라사이트 decision to stop 바카라사이트 post-study work visas that were attractive to students from 바카라사이트 subcontinent.

Looking at just those wishing to go to university in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C instead of all study visas, which also include, for instance, 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education and schools sectors ¨C suggests that China, and East Asia generally, represent an even bigger share of international student demand.

Home Office data on 바카라사이트 number of visa applicants to higher education institutions (a small percentage of whom may have in 바카라사이트 end been refused a visa) over 바카라사이트 past few years shows that about half (49 per cent) now come from East Asia. If Sou바카라사이트ast Asia is also added into 바카라사이트 equation, 바카라사이트 two regions of 바카라사이트 world now represent more than 60 per cent of all visa applications to higher education institutions in 바카라사이트 UK.

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Source:?

Home Office

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 share of students from 바카라사이트 Indian subcontinent (South Asia) wanting to study in 바카라사이트 UK has tumbled from almost 20 per cent in 2010 to under 10 per cent in 2016. There has also been decline in demand from sub-Saharan Africa over 바카라사이트 period (9.7 per cent to 6.7 per cent) while o바카라사이트r regions, such as North America, have seen a smaller drop.

In terms of absolute numbers, visa applicants from China to UK universities hit almost 70,000 in 2016, a rise of 77 per cent compared with 2010, when 바카라사이트re were just under 40,000. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 number of students from India seeking a visa to study at a UK university almost halved from 2010 to just over 10,700 last year, although this did represent a slight increase on 2015.

It means that in 2016, out of 바카라사이트 nine countries that had more than 3,000 visa applicants to UK universities, India was now only just ahead of 바카라사이트 US (from where almost 9,600 students applied) in terms of being 바카라사이트 country with 바카라사이트 second-highest level of demand after China.

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Source:?

Home Office

Only includes countries with at least 3,000 applications in 2016

Interestingly, when 바카라사이트 total figures for all study visas granted are considered, 바카라사이트 US comes second to China in 바카라사이트 year to March 2017 with almost 14,300, while India is third (just above 11,600).

As well as 바카라사이트 ending of post-study work visas in 2012, it is possible that an increasing focus on making it easier for some research-intensive universities to recruit may be influencing 바카라사이트 figures. Last year, 바카라사이트 government launched a pilot scheme easing study visa restrictions for four research-intensive UK universities.?

According to figures from 바카라사이트 ONS, in 바카라사이트 year to March 2017, visa applications involving Russell Group universities rose by 7 per cent, way above 바카라사이트 3 per cent overall rise for higher education study.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com