LONDON: Recent changes to the UK’s visa rules, introduced by the government under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have led to a significant decrease in student visa applications.
According to fresh statistics released by the Home Office on Thursday, the number of student visa applications from January to July 2024 was 16% lower compared to the same period in 2023. A total of 156,800 applications were recorded during this time.
While the authorities noted that the peak period for sponsored study visa applications is usually between July and September, before the start of the academic year, this drop has raised concerns among universities that rely heavily on fees from international students.
The decline is even more pronounced for dependants of students. Between January and July 2024, there were 13,100 applications from student dependants, an 81% decrease from the same period in 2023. This sharp drop follows new rules introduced in January 2024 that limit students from bringing dependants unless they are enrolled in postgraduate research courses or government-funded programs.
The drop in visa applications isn’t limited to students. The number of Health and Care Worker Visa applications also saw a significant decline. Between April and July 2024, there were 10,800 applications, an 81% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. The number of applications from dependants of health and care workers also saw a steep fall, dropping from a peak of 23,300 in August 2023 to just 5,100 in July 2024.