Recent data revealed that the number of international students who are choosing the UK as a study abroad destination seems to have reduced by the year ending March 2025.
Reduction In UK Visa Application Of Students
There is a drastic reduction in the number of migrants applying for UK visas as it has decreased by more than a third in the last year.
Around 772,200 persons applied for visas in all major categories as per the most recent British government data, in the fiscal year ending March 2025.
This represents a 37% decrease from nearly 1.24 million the previous year.
It appears to be largely impacted by the introduction of new UK immigration rules which was introduced to reduce net migration in the country.
The director of A Y & J Solicitors, Yash Dubal said, “A decline in the number of UK work visa applicants added to a shortfall in the number of visas allocated in key economic growth roles means the time has never been better to apply for a British work visa.”
Further adding, “At the same time, UK Home Office data shows that fewer than 181,000 visas out of a total of about 560,000 were allocated to foreign workers. The Skilled Worker visa is the best option for most migrant workers. There is no limit to the number of Skilled Worker visas that the UK government can issue.”
Fewer International Students Opting For UK Study
Now fewer international students seems to be opting for the UK as a study destination in abroad.
The applications from Sponsored study visa main applicants in the year ending March 2025 were 417,000.
If we compare this with the data from the earlier year, it is 11% lower than the year ending March 2024.
When it comes to the sponsored study visas, it follows a strong seasonal patterns.
Usually, it witness a peak in August each year, ahead of the academic year, with a second smaller peak in December.
Besides this, there is a fall in the number of applications from dependents of students showing a down trend.
Again it is affected by the rule changes that came into effect in January 2024. These rules prevents students from bringing dependents, apart from those studying postgraduate research courses or courses with government-funded scholarships.
Under the Skilled work routes data shows that the monthly number of Health and Care Worker visa applications from main applicants increased from 4,100 to 18,300 between February 2022 and August 2023, following the addition of care workers to the Shortage Occupation List.
