- In the year ending March 2024, about 446,924 visas have been granted to international students worldwide by the United Kingdom.
- Dependents counted for the 20% of the visas issued.
- Indian nationals were granted most study visas during this time (116,455).
- 66 percent of student visas were issued for master’s level courses.
- Extension of student visas remained downward trend to 38% compared to the previous year in the same period.
According to the latest UK study visa statistics for the years March 2023 and March 2024, about 446,924 visas have been granted to international students worldwide. The numbers are 6 percent fewer than what was granted in the year ending March 2023.
Visa numbers fell during COVID-19 but surged to 498,626 by June 2023, dropping slightly to 446,924 in the latest year. A policy change in 2024 limited dependants to research-based postgraduate students, leading to a 25% drop in student-dependant visas and a significant decrease in visa grants in early 2024.
Nationals of countries who were granted most study visas
In the year ending March 2024, 116,455 sponsored study visas were issued to Indian nationals, comprising 26% of the total. This represents a decrease of 21,717 from the previous year. Most Indian students came to the UK for master’s level studies which amounted to 94,149. The recent decline is due to 21,800 fewer Indian nationals enrolling in master’s programs.
The Chinese nationals are the second largest group receiving sponsored study visas, with 108,582 grants, making up 24% of the total. Of these, 63,027 (58%) are also pursuing master’s level education.
The Nigerian nationals remained at number three and Pakistanis at four where both counted to less than 40,000 grants of visas. Whereas, applicants from the US remained at the number 5 position.
Division of main and dependent applicants
A significant rise in the number of visas granted to both main applicants and their dependants following the COVID-19 pandemic and the UK’s exit from the EU. Recently, the number of dependant visas has increased at a faster pace than those for main applicants.
The peak occurred in the year ending March 2023, with approximately three dependants for every ten main applicants. However, both categories saw a decline, with dependants experiencing a more rapid decrease in the first quarter of 2024 amid new immigration rules targeting to cut net migration. By the year ending March 2024, dependants accounted for one-fifth (20%) of all sponsored study visas issued.
Education levels for which most of the visas were granted
In the year ending March 2024, two-thirds (66%) of student visas were issued for master’s level courses. The number of master’s level student visas increased annually from the year ending March 2019 (before the pandemic) to March 2023, reaching 313,670, but then slightly declined to 283,595 in the most recent year.
Bachelor’s level courses were the second most common, with 106,544 visas granted, making up 25% of the total. Although the number of bachelor’s level visas has remained higher than pre-pandemic levels, it has been stable in recent years.
Student visas for doctoral and other course levels accounted for a smaller share, making up 9% of the total grants in the latest year.
Study Visa Extensions
In the year ending March 2024, the number of main applicants granted extensions into Sponsored study routes dropped by 38% to 35,175, compared to 56,736 in the year ending March 2023. Whereas, 6,808 extensions were granted to their dependents.
See more reports on the statistics of the UK visas: