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UK universities are facing a financial crisis as the number of international students applying for visas to study in the UK has decreased ahead of the new academic year. Home Office figures have shown a reduction by 16% in visa applications submitted in between July and September of this year compared to last year, causing concern within the sector. Furthermore, the UK government’s new rule which came into effect in January 2023 banning family members of students from accompanying them has led to a staggering dip of 89% in visa applications for the family members of students.
Between July and September, there were 263,400 study visa applications made and only 6,700 applications for dependants of foreign students, sharply down from last year’s figures of 312,500 applications for study visas in the summer of 2023 and 59,900 applications for the foreign students’ dependants for the same period. Most of the UK universities depend heavily on the fees it earns from international students.
Students’ recruitment remains very challenging for universities according to Universities UK, the representative organization for 140 institutions. The UK’s position as a top study destination is also under threat as the numbers confirm various fears that government changes have made the UK a less attractive study destination. The decline in visa applications also led to calls from the University and College Union (UCU)’s general secretary Jo Grady for the UK government to provide bailouts for universities struggling financially. She has appealed to the newly elected Labour government to lift Tory visa restrictions to stabilise the universities and rebuild Britain.
In response, the Home Office has said that the government recognises the significant contribution that legal migration makes to the country and that it should be controlled and delivered through a fair system. While there are concerns regarding the financial health of UK universities with the drop in visa applications, the government’s stance on immigration is unlikely to change soon
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