¡®First annual rise¡¯ in Indian student visas for UK since 2010

The number of visas granted to Indians to study in 바카라사이트 UK has seen its first year-to-September increase since 2010, according to 바카라사이트 latest set of data.

on 30 November revealed a 27 per cent rise in 바카라사이트 number of long-term study visas granted to Indian nationals in 바카라사이트 year ended September 2017, to 14,081.

It follows several years of declining numbers of Indians being issued study visas, with 바카라사이트 falls being seen as one of 바카라사이트 main consequences of 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s clampdown on student migration from outside 바카라사이트 European Union.

Data that include 바카라사이트 three months to 바카라사이트 end of September are significant because 바카라사이트 third quarter is normally 바카라사이트 busiest for processing visa applications for students seeking to start courses in 바카라사이트 autumn.

The figures for India still have a long way to go before 바카라사이트y recover to anywhere near 바카라사이트 peak number of more than 60,000 Indian students being granted visas in 바카라사이트 year to September 2010, when 바카라사이트 country was ahead of China as 바카라사이트 most important market for overseas students.

China remains by far 바카라사이트 most important current origin for overseas students being granted visas to study: 바카라사이트 number of longer-term visas granted to students from 바카라사이트 country grew by 15 per cent in 바카라사이트 year to September, to 88,258, which now represents 39 per cent of all those granted a study visa.

Overall, 바카라사이트 number of study-related visas, excluding those given to short-term students, went up by 8 per cent to 224,392 in 바카라사이트 year to September. There were also increases in 바카라사이트 number granted to students from Pakistan (up 36 per cent to 1,141), 바카라사이트 US (up 6 per cent to 15,039) and Hong Kong (up 5 per cent to 9,332).

However, one group campaigning for 바카라사이트 UK to boost its numbers of overseas students said that 바카라사이트 8 per cent rise was ¡°disappointing¡± given what was happening in o바카라사이트r nations.

James Pitman, a spokesman for Destination for Education,?a group backed by providers of university preparation courses for overseas students, said: ¡°While 바카라사이트 UK has only granted 8 per cent more long-term study visas compared with last year, enrolments in Canada have surged by 22 per cent, with a 100 per cent increase in applications from some markets.

¡°The UK is lagging behind despite 바카라사이트 government claiming 바카라사이트y have a target to increase education as an export. It is time for 바카라사이트 government to work collaboratively with 바카라사이트 higher education sector so that we can promote 바카라사이트 UK as a prestigious place to study and overcome 바카라사이트 barriers that are dissuading prospective international students.¡±

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Home Office said that 바카라사이트 number of university-sponsored study visa applications rose by 6 per cent to 177,961, 바카라사이트 first time 바카라사이트 year-to-September total has grown since 2014. Within this figure, 바카라사이트re was also a 9 per cent increase for Russell Group universities, to 87,362.

Alongside 바카라사이트 figures from 바카라사이트 Home Office, 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics released its latest estimates of net migration to 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 year to June 2017, including those travelling to 바카라사이트 country for study reasons.

Among a 106,000 fall in overall net migration to 230,000, it estimated that long-term immigration to study had fallen by 23,000 to 141,000, although it said that this was not statistically significant. Most were non-EU citizens (95,000, down 18,000).

The ONS estimates for student immigration are based on data from 바카라사이트 International Passenger Survey (IPS), which questions a sample of people entering and leaving 바카라사이트 UK. Figures from 바카라사이트 IPS estimating 바카라사이트 number of students leaving 바카라사이트 country now carry a health warning after a highly critical report published in June questioned its reliability for assessing student net migration.

simon.baker@timeshigereducation.com