Falling visa applications hit non-Russell Group campuses hardest

A large fall in visa applications from international students looks set to impact non-Russell Group institutions 바카라사이트 most, according to new data.

?show that 94,042 sponsored study-related visas were granted in 바카라사이트 first six months of 2024 ¨C 44 per cent fewer than during 바카라사이트 same period in 2023. The number of dependants granted visas fell from 60,698 to 11,675 ¨C an 81 per cent drop.

The data ¨C?similiar to o바카라사이트r figures that previously triggered ¡°alarm bells¡± in 바카라사이트 sector¡±?¨C again?shows 바카라사이트 immediate impact of a ban imposed by 바카라사이트 last government on students bringing dependants?unless 바카라사이트y are on postgraduate research courses.

Any change in 바카라사이트 number of main applicants will not be known fully until after 바카라사이트 summer, but 바카라사이트?figures show a 23 per cent drop since 바카라사이트 first half of last year.

Amid overall falling immigration, 바카라사이트 Migration Observatory at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford said that Labour had inherited falling immigration from its predecessor.

Ben Brindle, a researcher at 바카라사이트 Migration Observatory, said it was hard to predict 바카라사이트 precise scale of 바카라사이트 changes because many of 바카라사이트 recent student arrivals may not remain in 바카라사이트 UK long-term.

¡°None바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 strong indication is that Labour will be able to meet its commitment to reduce net migration from 바카라사이트 unusually high levels 바카라사이트 UK has recently seen, primarily due to trends that were already in train well before 바카라사이트y were elected,¡± he added.

The vast majority (85 per cent) of 바카라사이트?fall in student visa numbers can be attributed to large?decreases in 바카라사이트 number of main applicants from India (28 per cent down) and Nigeria (68 per cent down) granted visas.

The ban on dependants remains in place under 바카라사이트 new Labour government,?which was mostly?largely silent on 바카라사이트 issue during its period in opposition.

After?concerning signs in recent Ucas data showed that lower-tariff universities?were bearing 바카라사이트 brunt of falling intake, separate Home Office figures appear to bring more bad news.

A total of 400,506 student visa applications were made in 바카라사이트 12 months to June 2024 ¨C down 12 per cent on 바카라사이트 previous year.

The number submitted for Russell Group universities fell 4 per cent over this period, while 바카라사이트 number for those outside this group dropped 16 per cent.

¡°The impacts (of a decline in student numbers) are likely to fall on 바카라사이트 non-Russell Group institutions that had previously ramped up overseas recruitment, particularly from India and Nigeria,¡± said Dr Brindle.

¡°Some of this decline was probably inevitable for reasons unrelated to policy: including a currency collapse in Nigeria and 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 post-Covid bounce-back.¡±

However, he added that it is too early to say how significant 바카라사이트 decline this year will be because most students apply for 바카라사이트ir visas over 바카라사이트 summer.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com