The UK has granted over 432,000 sponsored study visas in the year ending June 2024, marking a 13% decrease from the previous year. This decline follows the government’s implementation of stricter visa requirements aimed at ensuring the integrity of the student visa scheme.
Topics Discussed
- Decrease in Sponsored Study Visas
- Impact on Indian and Chinese Students
- Decline in Student Dependent Visas
- Stricter UK Visa Regulations
Decrease in Sponsored Study Visas
The UK issued 432,225 sponsored study visas to main applicants in the year ending June 2024, reflecting a 13% drop compared to the 498,068 visas granted during the same period in 2023. This reduction is largely attributed to the tighter visa regulations introduced by the UK government in May 2025.
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Impact on Indian and Chinese Students
Half of the study visas granted were issued to students from India and China. Indian nationals received 110,006 visas, accounting for 25% of the total, despite a 23% decrease in their numbers. Similarly, Chinese students were granted 107,236 visas, also representing 25% of the total.
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Decline in Student Dependent Visas
The number of visas issued to student dependents saw a significant 39% decline, with only 94,253 visas granted. This drop is linked to the new policy allowing only research-based postgraduate students to bring dependents to the UK, starting from January 2024.
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Stricter UK Visa Regulations
The decrease in both study and dependent visas is a direct consequence of the UK’s stricter immigration policies, which include higher financial maintenance requirements and more stringent admission criteria. These measures aim to prevent the misuse of the student visa route as a means of immigration rather than education.
These changes reflect the UK government’s commitment to controlling migration while maintaining the integrity of its education system, but they also highlight the challenges faced by international students and their families.
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