It appears that the drop in visa applications is directly correlated to the policy change, with the Home Office noting that there were just 17,800 applications from dependents of students between January and September 2024 – marking a whopping 85% drop on the previous year.

The new rule was brought in by the previous Conservative administration under Rishi Sunak’s premiership, the latest in a series of hostile moves by the government that led many in the international education sector to fear that it would decide to scrap the Graduate Route.

New education secretary Bridget Phillipson has repeatedly stated that international students are welcome in the UK under the new administration, prompting renewed hope that the sector’s relationship with the government may be on the up.

However, UK university stakeholders warned that more needs to be done to renew international students’ interest in studying in the UK.

“Alongside the confirmation that the Graduate route remains in place, the new government has sent a clear message that international students are valued by and welcome in the U.K., providing some clarity and certainty for prospective students. However, as the data shows, the recruitment environment remains very challenging,” Charley Robinson, head of mobility policy at Universities UK International, told The PIE News.

“While there has been a small recovery, numbers remain down and the UK’s position as a top study destination is under threat. As we set out in the recent Universities UK blueprint, we need government to continue working with universities to deliver stable and sustainable long-term growth in international student numbers.”

Diana Beech, the chief executive of London Higher – which represents universities in London – said: “The decline in international visa applications, largely driven by restrictions on dependents and negative rhetoric around higher education from the previous government, is deeply concerning for UK universities, particularly given the existing financial pressures across the sector.

“While the new government’s more positive tone towards higher education, including international students, is welcome, much more is needed to ensure the financial sustainability of institutions, especially those that play a crucial role in promoting social mobility both here in the UK and across the globe. With the value of domestic fees having declined by more than 30%, speculation mounting about potential reductions in research funding at the next budget, and various escalating costs, the strain on universities continues to grow and the risk of an unplanned market exit increases.”