Decline in Indian student applications to UK over safety and employment concerns

A recent report on the stability of the higher education sector in England reveals that Indian students are being discouraged from applying to UK universities, further complicating their financial difficulties at a time when educational institutions are already grappling with tight budgets.

A research report by the Office for Students (OfS), a non-departmental public body of the UK government's Department for Education, published on Nov 15, shows a 20.4% decline in the number of Indian students, from 139,914 in 2022-23 to 111,329 in 2023-24.

The research is based on UK Home Office data regarding the confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) by UK providers.

According to Indian student organizations in the UK, the decline was expected due to limited employment opportunities and safety concerns following recent anti-immigration riots in various cities.

“There has been a considerable decline in student visa applications from prospective non-UK students in some major source countries,” the report by OfS states.

The report continues, “This data shows an 11.8% decline in the total number of sponsor acceptances issued to international students, with significant variation among nationalities. The largest declines were observed in the number of CAS issued to Indian and Nigerian students, down 28,585 (20.4%) and 25,897 (44.6%), respectively.”

It warns that colleges dependent on students from countries like India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh will be severely impacted by this declining trend.

“The number of international students from certain countries that send large numbers to the UK has decreased significantly,” OfS cautions.

“By 2025-26, based on current trends and without significant mitigating action, we estimate a net income reduction of GBP 3,445 million for the sector. Without intervention, this could result in a sector-level deficit of GBP 1,636 million, with up to 72% of providers being in deficit and 40% having low liquidity,” it adds.

The Indian National Students' Association (INSA) UK expressed that the sharp decline in Indian student applications comes as no surprise, given the government’s restrictions on allowing international students to bring their spouses and dependent partners.

“Students are not allowed to bring their partners to the UK under the new policy. Given the economic conditions here and recent rioting stories, unless the government addresses this issue, the outlook for UK universities is bleak, as they rely heavily on Indian students,” said Amit Tiwari, President of INSA UK.

In recent years, Indians have surpassed the Chinese as the top nationality granted study visas to the UK.

They now represent the largest group accessing the Graduate Route post-study work visa, which was initially uncertain but has since been confirmed to remain in place.

Sanam Arora, Chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, said, “Many factors contribute to the decline in numbers, including the Conservative ban on dependents, confusion surrounding the post-study work visa, increased skilled worker salary thresholds, and the apparent lack of jobs in the UK.”

“We have also discovered the scale of misinformation that persists. For the first time, safety is also being raised as a concern. Universities need to ensure that they are effectively communicating the UK offer in India to address these ongoing confusions,” she added.

Arora continued, “Universities must invest significantly in their employability support to stay competitive and provide a comprehensive, outcome-oriented offer for students.”