The United Kingdom, a popular destination for international students, has experienced a decrease in the number of sponsored study visa issuance in recent years.
According to data published by the Home Office, sponsored study visas were down by 14 percent in 2024, with the most affected nationalities by this decreasing trend being Indians, Nigerians and Bangladeshis, VisaGuide.World reports.
The number of study visas in 2024 reached 393,125, which is down from 498,068 recorded in the previous year. One of the reasons why this decrease has occurred is the tightened measures for international students who, since January 202,4 are no longer allowed to bring their family members to the UK.
China Became Top International Student Source for the UK in 2024
While the number of students from other countries marked a downward trend, Chinese international students became the number one nationality group to obtain the most sponsored study visas in the UK.
The top ten nationalities that obtained most study visas in 2024, are the Chinese, as mentioned, with 102,940 visas obtained, followed by Indians (88,860), Pakistanis (35,045), Nigerians (18,900) and Americans (15,275).
The fifth nationality with the most study visas issued were Nepalese with 12,235 visas granted in 2024, followed by Bangladeshis with 6,400, and Malaysians with 5,420. Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia were the ninth and tenth countries of origin for students that obtained UK visas last year – 5,180 and 4,875 visas, respectively.
UK Issued More Family Visas in 2024 While Work & Study Visa Issuance Dipped
As the data from Home Office has revealed, the number of visas granted in 2024 was down from 2023 levels. However, compared to pre-pandemic levels, the UK has issued a higher number of visas.
Family-related visa issuance has been on an upward trend for the fourth year in a row, while other types of visas have decreased.
In 2024, there were 91,899 family-related visa applications, a 16 percent increase compared with 2023. This year-on-year increase continues an upward trend over the past four years.
On the other hand, a total of 210,098 work visas were granted in 2024, which is 37 per cent below the 2023 levels. The reason why fewer work visas were issued in 2024 could be related to the fact that during the pandemic, more workers, especially in the healthcare sector, were needed. In 2024, the demand for such workers dropped, reflecting the decrease as noticed in visa issuance.