London, UK – British universities are facing mounting financial pressures as the number of international student visa applications continues to decline. According to the latest figures, visa applications from July to September this year plummeted by 17% compared to the same period last year, dropping from 312,500 to 263,400. The decline is even more pronounced for student dependents, with applications falling by a staggering 89% from 59,900 to 6,700.
The sharp decrease in student dependents can be attributed to the government’s decision in January to ban dependents of international students, except for those enrolled in specific postgraduate research programs or government-funded scholarships.
Universities are already grappling with frozen domestic tuition fees and restrictions introduced by the previous Conservative government. The additional decline in international students is exacerbating their financial difficulties.
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) think tank, warned that the decline in international student numbers will significantly impact higher education institutions. "The UK has lost its attractiveness as a study destination due to the policies of the previous Conservative government," he said. "The decline in international students is making it difficult for university administrators to manage their operations, including finances and staffing, and could threaten the survival of some institutions. Although the new ministers have changed their tone, there is still no evidence of a policy change."
Among the restrictive measures introduced by the previous Conservative government to reduce the number of people entering the UK legally was a ban on dependents accompanying overseas care workers and an increase in the minimum salary threshold for skilled workers to £38,700. As a result, applications for visas by overseas care workers and their families have plummeted. According to the latest Home Office statistics, visa applications in the first nine months of the year fell by 64% compared to the same period in 2023, to 105,300.
Social care organizations have expressed deep concern about the impact of the previous government's ban on dependents, describing it as "cruel" and a "lifeline cut" for overseas workers. Skills for Care, a UK social care charity, has emphasized the "absolute necessity" of overseas workers for the UK's social care system, warning that the sharp decline in overseas care workers will have negative consequences.
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