Data from the student enrolment platform Enroly (used by about a third of UK universities) show that the trend of declining Indian and Nigerian demand in 2023 has carried through to this year. For India, universities had issued 34% fewer Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to students in the January 2024 intake compared with the January 2023 intake, and deposits were off by 38%. For Nigeria, CAS issuance was off by 71% and deposits were 22% lower than in 2023.

UK business schools, which deliver so many postgraduate-taught programmes, are also noticing the effects of the dependants ban this year. Just over three quarters (76%) of 50 UK institutions responding to a Chartered Association of Business Schools survey said that their non-EU enrolments had fallen in the January 2024 intake. And a Universities UK survey of 73 member universities found that on average, international student enrolments in postgraduate-taught courses starting in January 2024 were 44% lower than in January 2023.

Robert MacIntosh, Chair of the Chartered Association of Business Schools and Pro-Vice Chancellor for the School of Business and Law at Northumbria University said:

“These latest results show the potential for the government’s immigration policies to severely damage one of the UK’s most successful exports. The decline in international business student enrolments will limit a vital source of universities’ income which underpins the cost of teaching and research across subject areas far beyond business and management.”

UK universities are bracing for the results of a government review of the popular Graduate Route, which allows internationals students to remain in the UK for 2-3 years after completing their studies. That review, which intends to examine if the route is being exploited, is due to be released in the next couple of months.

In recent months, international students have also had to face a 65% increase to the Immigration Health Surcharge fee. The fee for health coverage rose to £776 per year in February 2024.