International Student Numbers Will Decline in UK, Says British Council

Graduates gather at Cambridge University, England, on Oct. 23, 2010. Paul Hackett/File Photo/Reuters

International student numbers are set to decline for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of several factors, including the UK government tightening immigration rules, the British Council has said.

In a paper released on Thursday, the British Council said: “Inbound student mobility to the UK could decline in 2024 for the first time since the pandemic due to a combination of mostly cyclical headwinds.

“But this is a natural correction that will put the UK back on its long-term pre-Covid growth trajectory.”

The British Council, which is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, explained that such cyclical trends included the reemergence of the American education market and a strong pound.

Migration policy is also a factor for the decline, researchers said, noting that “growth in issuance of UK study visas essentially ground to a halt by the third quarter of 2023 and will likely go into reverse in 2024 given rising domestic pressures to restrict migration.”

Responding to the report, a government spokesperson said, “We are fully focused on striking the right balance between acting decisively to tackle net migration, which we are clear is far too high, and attracting the brightest students to study at our universities.”

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK (UUK), said: “International students are hugely beneficial both for UK universities and their wider communities, with a single intake bringing in over £40 billion to the UK economy in one year.

“Government is rightly focused on strong economic growth, and damaging our competitiveness as a study destination would be an act of economic self-harm.”

Ms. Stern added: “The British Council data demonstrates that the combined impact of government policy, rhetoric, and a slowdown following the extraordinary years of the pandemic are having an effect, and international student numbers are falling.

“We are also in competition with other countries when it comes to attracting students. Students and universities need stability to plan for the future, so we are calling on the government to commit to supporting both international student admissions and to protect the graduate route.”

International Students and Migration

The report had cited recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, which the British Council said “underscores that migration pathways continue to be a strong motivating factor for international study.”

A study by The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford published in January 2024 found that in 2022, student migration to the UK reached an “all-time high,” with more than 484,000 visas being issued as well as 134,000 visas granted for student dependents.

On Jan. 1, 2024, new visa rules came into force forbidding international students bringing dependents—such as children or parents—to Britain. There are exemptions for those on research programmes or government-funded scholarships.

In 2023, the UK was the second-highest recruiter of international students—behind the United States—with 11 percent of all inbound international students, ahead of Canada (10 percent) and Australia (6 percent).

Allegations of ‘Bad Practice’ in International Student Recruitment

In January 2024, Robert Halfon, the minister for higher education, announced an investigation into allegations of “bad practice” by UK university agents recruiting international students.

Mr. Halfon said the Department of Education would launch an “urgent investigation” following a Sunday Times article that alleged universities were offering placements to overseas students at lower grades than those expected from UK applicants.

Since 2017, university tuition fees for domestic undergraduate students in England have been frozen at £9,250 a year; there is no cap on international student fees.

UUK, which is an advocacy body representing university leaders, announced last week that it would also be reviewing international student admission practices.

Responding to The Sunday Times’ allegations, the Russell Group, an association of top-tier research universities, said the article discussed international foundation year programmes, which are routes for entry onto degree courses.

The Russell Group spokesman said admission onto main degree programmes from foundation courses “is not guaranteed,” saying, “Universities maintain robust admissions policies to ensure an equitable and consistent process for all applicants.”

PA Media contributed to this report.