UK study visa numbers return to pre-pandemic levels

The number of visas granted to students to study in 바카라사이트 UK has recovered to levels seen around a year before 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic, according to 바카라사이트 latest figures.

Immigration data??¨C which give an indication of students seeking to travel to 바카라사이트 UK ¨C show that more than 250,000 study visas were granted in 바카라사이트 year to March 2021.

Although this was 16 per cent?less than 바카라사이트 year before ¨C 바카라사이트 last 12-month period largely unaffected by 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis ¨C it is about 10,000 above 바카라사이트 level seen in 바카라사이트 12 months to March 2019.

It also represents a major recovery in 바카라사이트 number of students gaining visas over 바카라사이트 autumn and winter of 2020-21?to study in 바카라사이트 UK.?

When figures?were released in November?for 바카라사이트 year to 바카라사이트 end of September 2020, 바카라사이트y showed that 바카라사이트 number of visas granted had fallen by a huge 36 per cent in a year, with those issued to Chinese students dropping by more than half.

This was mainly due to 바카라사이트 visa application process largely grinding to a halt over 바카라사이트 spring of 2020 due to 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

The latest figures indicate that many Chinese students may have sought to come to 바카라사이트 UK later in 바카라사이트 year as universities allowed different start times or made?distance-learning arrangements for 바카라사이트?first term.?

Taken over 바카라사이트 whole period, 바카라사이트 number of visas granted to Chinese nationals was still 26 per cent lower than in 바카라사이트 year to March 2020, a drop of?about 30,000, but not nearly as high as 바카라사이트?drop recorded in 바카라사이트 year to September.?

Overall, Chinese students have made up almost two-thirds of 바카라사이트 total fall?in granted study visas over 바카라사이트 past year, 바카라사이트 figures show.?

To mitigate this loss, UK universities appear to have attracted increased numbers from India, Pakistan and, most noticeably, Nigeria, which saw an 83 per cent increase in study visa grants.

It makes Nigeria 바카라사이트 country with 바카라사이트 third-highest number of study visas for 바카라사이트 year to March 2021 (around 17,400). There was a 13 per cent increase in 바카라사이트 number of grants to Indian nationals (to around 56,000 visas) and a 52 per cent rise for Pakistan (to almost 9,000) visas.

For 바카라사이트 first time, 바카라사이트 figures also show how many students from Europe have applied for visas since 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s immigration rules changed due to Brexit.

In 바카라사이트 first three months of 2021, just 290 study visa were granted to students from 바카라사이트 European Economic Area (mainly European Union countries) and Switzerland, making up only 1 per cent of all study visas.

Although 바카라사이트 low figure is likely to reflect 바카라사이트 fact that most visa applications would be made later in 바카라사이트 year ahead of courses starting in 바카라사이트 autumn, as well as 바카라사이트 deterrent effect of 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s travel restrictions, it may cause some concern for universities seeking to attract EU students.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com