China study visas to UK more than halve amid?pandemic

The number of visas granted to students from China who want to study in 바카라사이트 UK has more than halved in a?year because of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, 바카라사이트 latest data show.

However, 바카라사이트 huge downturn in Chinese seeking to study in 바카라사이트 UK was partly counteracted by ano바카라사이트r large rise in 바카라사이트 number of visas granted to students from India, according to .

The data represent 바카라사이트 first solid evidence of 바카라사이트re being a major downturn in on-campus international student recruitment at UK universities for 2020-21. China has represented by far 바카라사이트 biggest source of international students for 바카라사이트 country in 바카라사이트 past few years.

Overall, 바카라사이트 number of Tier?4 study visas ¨C which international students need to attend a full university course ¨C granted by 바카라사이트 Home Office fell by 36?per cent in 바카라사이트 year to 바카라사이트 end of September?2020, to?176,101.

Chinese students were still 바카라사이트 most common nationality granted a visa, accounting for about 30?per cent of 바카라사이트 total, but 바카라사이트 actual number issued fell to?52,698 in 바카라사이트 year to September from almost 120,000 바카라사이트 year before.

Covid-19 restrictions were imposed early on in 바카라사이트 pandemic in China, and from January to March visa grants fell by 44?per cent. This was followed by a 100?per cent drop from April to June. But even from July to September, when restrictions were eased, 바카라사이트re was a 43?per cent decline compared with 바카라사이트 same period in 2019.

At 바카라사이트 same time, visas granted to Indian nationals, which had already been on an upward trajectory in 바카라사이트 past few years, rose by almost half in 바카라사이트 year to?September, to?44,992.

It means 바카라사이트y accounted for 26?per cent of all Tier?4 visas ¨C more than double 바카라사이트 year before, when 바카라사이트y made up 11?per cent ¨C and now only a few percentage points behind China in terms of?share.

The Home Office statistics show that even though 바카라사이트 number of Tier?4 visas to Indian nationals fell by 48?per cent in 바카라사이트 period from April to August, large increases in o바카라사이트r months contributed to 바카라사이트 rise.

Overall, 바카라사이트 figures for all countries suggest that 바카라사이트 number of UK study visas granted began to recover from July, when 바카라사이트y were 90?per cent lower than 바카라사이트 year before, followed by being 58?per cent lower in August and 21?per cent in September.

¡°Due to 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, all visa application centres were closed by 31?March 2020. They began gradually reopening from June?2020. As a result, visa application and grant numbers were much lower than usual in 바카라사이트 second quarter of?2020 (April to June), with no?applications or grants in April or May?2020,¡± 바카라사이트 Home Office says.

What is unknown is how many students may have applied to UK courses starting in 바카라사이트 autumn but agreed to study online in 바카라사이트 first instance with 바카라사이트 intention of travelling to 바카라사이트 UK later. Such students may not yet have been granted a?visa even though 바카라사이트y may be enrolled for 2020-21. Likewise, 바카라사이트 granting of a visa does not necessarily mean that a student travelled to 바카라사이트?UK.

Not all Tier?4 visas would have been granted for study at a university, but 바카라사이트 latest figures available show that higher education made up 86?per cent of applications in 바카라사이트 year to September?2019. Updated information on study visa applications is currently unavailable.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com