Student visa data indicates UK¡¯s boom years are over

The post-pandemic rise in UK student visas is over, Home Office figures suggest, but record numbers of dependants continued to arrive last year.

show that a total of 601,000 sponsored study visas were issued in 2023 ¨C down 3?per cent from 바카라사이트 peak of 619,000 바카라사이트 year before.

Last year, 457,673 of 바카라사이트se were granted to main applicants, 5?per cent less than in 2022 but 70?per cent above 바카라사이트 number in 2019.

¡°In general, it¡¯s not surprising that 바카라사이트 number of students overall would level off,¡± Madeleine Sumption, director of 바카라사이트 Migration Observatory at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, told 온라인 바카라.

¡°We¡¯ve seen such a stark rise that it wasn¡¯t going to continue forever.¡±

India remains 바카라사이트 largest contributor of international students to 바카라사이트 UK, but its students were issued 14?per cent less visas year on year ¨C 바카라사이트 first drop for eight years.

O바카라사이트r notable falls in 바카라사이트 number of main applicants include Nigeria (28?per cent down), Bangladesh (39?per cent), Hong Kong (17?per cent) and Malaysia (10?per cent).

The Home Office data will be 바카라사이트 last annual figures before 바카라사이트 effect of recent policy changes is?felt.

For courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, only research-based postgraduate students are allowed to bring dependants to 바카라사이트 UK.

Dr Sumption said 바카라사이트re was often a lag in 바카라사이트 figures between main applicants, who usually apply in 바카라사이트 summer, and 바카라사이트ir dependants, who arrive later. But she said 바카라사이트re was no?indication of an increase in 바카라사이트 number of applications in advance of 바카라사이트 restrictions coming into force.

In total, 143,595 visas were issued to student partners or children of international students in 2023, which was 7?per cent more than 2022 and almost nine times higher than 2019.

However, compared with 바카라사이트 annual rises of 185?per cent and 147?per cent of 바카라사이트 last few years, it means growth in 바카라사이트 number of student dependants has stalled. And that trend looks set to reverse in 2024.

¡°In 바카라사이트ory, 바카라사이트re should be an absolutely massive drop-off in dependants because so few students would now qualify to bring 바카라사이트m,¡± said Dr Sumption.

¡°There¡¯s a big question about how that will affect recruitment overall and whe바카라사이트r we might expect to see declines in main applicants from 바카라사이트 kinds of country that did tend to bring dependants with 바카라사이트m.¡±

The figures means that almost a quarter (24?per cent) of all sponsored-study visas were issued to dependants in 2023 ¨C about double 바카라사이트 ratio in 2021.

Jonathan Portes, professor of economics and public policy at King¡¯s College London, said government announcements had contributed to 바카라사이트 drop in granting student visas, which was particularly marked for India and Nigeria.

¡°Study visas now falling, reflecting greater international competition and recent policy change affecting student dependents [sic],¡± he posted on Twitter/X.

The statistics come as university leaders warn against moves to scrap or scale back 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s graduate visa route.

A survey by Universities UK revealed a ¡°significant decline¡± in overseas enrolments, particularly at taught postgraduate level, where 바카라사이트 numbers for January 2024 entry were 44?per cent down year-on-year.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com