Indian Students Lose Interest in the UK: What Are the Reasons? Decline in Sponsored Study Visas

While Indians may be leading in obtaining student visas in the UK, the number of Indian students securing admissions to UK universities has been steadily decreasing. 

Due to large-scale migration restrictions, Indian students are choosing not to go to the UK.

Indian Students’ Decline in UK Due to Strict Migration Rules

According to data from the UK’s Home Office, there has been a 23% decrease in the number of Indian students coming to the UK for higher education as of June 2024. Despite this decline, Indian students still lead in obtaining graduate route visas.

The decrease in Indian students in the UK is attributed to the new immigration rules that came into effect at the start of this year. These new rules have made it more stringent to bring dependents to the UK. As of June 2024, 110,006 Indian students were granted sponsored study visas, which is 32,687 fewer than the previous year.

23% Drop in Indian Students Going to the UK

Between 2019 and 2023, the number of foreign students from India and Nigeria in the UK increased. However, since 2023, the number of Indian students has decreased by 23%, while the number of Nigerian students has dropped by 46%.

Indian Citizens Under India-UK Young Professionals Scheme Fall Short of Visa Limit

Since February of last year, 2,234 Indian citizens have traveled to the UK under the India-UK Young Professionals Scheme. This number is below the visa cap of 3,000.

In the year ending June 2024, Indian students constituted the largest group of international students arriving in the UK. The number of Indian students who went to the UK under the Graduate Route was 67,529, which accounts for only 46% of the approved visas in this category.