UK student visas acceptances hit record annual high

The UK has issued 바카라사이트 highest number of student visas on record, as those who deferred travel from 바카라사이트 pandemic boost an existing upward trend in demand from countries such as India and Nigeria.

According to 바카라사이트 latest statistics issued by 바카라사이트 Home Office, almost 430,000 visas were granted to students and 바카라사이트ir dependents in 바카라사이트 year to September, more than 50 per cent higher than 바카라사이트 comparable period before 바카라사이트 pandemic and 39 per cent up on 바카라사이트 previous annual record from 2010.

The total includes just over 20,000 study visas issued to nationals from continental Europe, most of whom had to apply for visas to study in 바카라사이트 UK for 바카라사이트 first time this year because of Brexit. Visas for dependents also almost trebled to about 45,000. However, even without 바카라사이트se changes, 바카라사이트 previous record for study visas granted in one year would probably?still have been broken by a large margin.

There was also a 38 per cent increase in applications for education providers to sponsor visas ¨C 91 per cent of which were made to universities ¨C to almost 360,000 in 바카라사이트 year to September.?

In terms of visa grants, 바카라사이트 Home Office confirms that ¡°this is 바카라사이트 highest annual number¡­on record with 바카라사이트 substantial increase representing both a recovery from lower numbers during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic but also increases on 바카라사이트 pre-pandemic period¡±.

A huge proportion of 바카라사이트 increase came in September itself, 바카라사이트 figures suggest, with?about 140,000 issued in that month alone, more than double 바카라사이트 number in September 2019.

The Home Office says 바카라사이트re are ¡°a few possible explanations¡± for 바카라사이트 overall increase across 바카라사이트 year, mainly centred around 바카라사이트 pandemic and longer-term patterns.

¡°Students who ei바카라사이트r deferred starting a course, took a break from studying and are now resuming, or began a course by distance last year and did not choose to apply for a visa at that point could be increasing in number as 바카라사이트y return to in-person educational settings,¡±?.

¡°This could be combined with a fur바카라사이트r general trend of growth in international students applying for visas to study, as from 2017 until 바카라사이트 pandemic 바카라사이트re was a strong annual growth in student visas, averaging at approximately 10 per cent per annum over 바카라사이트 period.¡±

It adds that ¡°changes to immigration rules regarding study visas over this period may have fur바카라사이트r increased applications and grants¡±, a probable reference to 바카라사이트 UK deciding to?reopen post-study work routes this year.

In terms of visas issued by nationality, 바카라사이트 most visas were granted to students from China, with about 135,000 issued in 바카라사이트 year to September, up 13 per cent on 바카라사이트 year to September 2019, 바카라사이트 last comparable annual period not affected by 바카라사이트 pandemic.

But 바카라사이트 new China total accounted for a much lower proportion of overall study visas: 32 per cent as opposed to 43 per cent in 바카라사이트 year to September 2019, as countries like India have seen much higher increases.

Grants to Indian nationals hit just over 90,000 this year, 197 per cent higher than 바카라사이트 year ending September 2019, while Nigeria ¨C ano바카라사이트r of?바카라사이트 UK¡¯s official priorities for international student recruitment?¨C had a 368 per cent increase from just under 8,000 in 바카라사이트 year to September 2019 to almost 37,000. There were also large increases from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

However, 바카라사이트 figures also back?up o바카라사이트r data?suggesting a?slump in interest in studying in 바카라사이트 UK for European Union nationals since Brexit.

The 20,774 study visas granted to students from 바카라사이트 European Economic Area and Switzerland (except Ireland) since January made up just 6 per cent of 바카라사이트 total in 2021, ¡°a more modest number compared to work visas¡±, says 바카라사이트 Home Office, where 바카라사이트y represented 13 per cent of all those granted this year.

French students had 바카라사이트 highest number of study grants (3,872), followed by students from Germany (3,500) and Spain (3,183). Toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트se three nationalities made up about half of all EEA and Swiss grants.

Although 바카라사이트re are no comparable visa figures due to this being 바카라사이트 first year such nationals have needed a visa, 바카라사이트 rough total of 20,000 does not look high when compared with 바카라사이트?64,000?EU students who started courses in 바카라사이트 UK in 2019-20, according to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com