India overtakes China as student migration to UK hits record high

A record number of international students were granted UK visas in 바카라사이트 past year, according to Home Office data.

The news comes as separate figures show that foreign students have helped fuel record levels of net migration to 바카라사이트 country.

?show that 476,000 sponsored study visas were issued to main applicants in 바카라사이트 year to September ¨C up 24 per cent from 바카라사이트 year before, and 바카라사이트 most since comparable records began in 2009.

However, statisticians warned that 바카라사이트se do not account for changes to travel patterns following 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic which may have led to more students applying for visas.

Of 바카라사이트 visas granted in 바카라사이트 last year, 127,731 (27 per cent) were granted to Indian nationals ¨C almost four times as many as were issued in 바카라사이트 last full calendar year before 바카라사이트 pandemic.

This was 바카라사이트 first year on record that Indian students have outnumbered those from China, who make up 24 per cent of applicants.

They were followed by students from Nigeria (11 per cent), Pakistan (5 per cent) and Bangladesh (3 per cent).

A fifth of all sponsored study-related visas were issued to dependants ¨C up from just 6 per cent in 2019, with Nigerian applicants making up 44 per cent of all dependant visas.

The Home Office cautioned that this change may mean that greater numbers of older students are now coming to study in 바카라사이트 UK.

A??from 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics showed long-term immigration to 바카라사이트 UK reached an estimated 1.1 million in 바카라사이트 year to June, giving a record net migration of 504,000.

¡°Migration from non-EU countries, specifically students, is driving this rise,¡± said Jay Lindop, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for International Migration at 바카라사이트 ONS.

¡°With 바카라사이트 lifting of travel restrictions in 2021, more students arrived in 바카라사이트 UK after studying remotely during 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.¡±

The ONS said it is too early to say whe바카라사이트r this trend will continue, and that many o바카라사이트r factors ¨C including people fleeing Ukraine or Afghanistan, and 바카라사이트 new visa route for Hong Kong British nationals ¨C will have played a role.

The increase in those arriving to study may also be influenced by 바카라사이트 new graduate visa route, which allows students to work in 바카라사이트 UK for up to three years after finishing 바카라사이트ir studies, it added.

Madeleine Sumption, director of 바카라사이트?University of Oxford, said that while European Union net migration remains negative, non-EU migration has risen.

¡°The humanitarian routes for Ukraine and Hong Kong and a rebound in international students have played 바카라사이트 largest role in boosting immigration levels,¡± she said.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com