International Students in the UK: Trends and Insights

The United Kingdom has long been a beacon for international students seeking world-class education, and as of March 08, 2025, the numbers tell a compelling story of growth, shift, and resilience. Drawing from data compiled by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the Home Office, UCAS, and the Office for National Statistics (ONS)—last updated in May 2024—this article explores the latest figures on international student enrolments, visa applications, and emerging patterns. With a new HESA data release on the horizon, here’s a look at where things stand.

A Global Classroom: Who’s Studying in the UK?

In the 2021-22 academic year, UK higher education institutions welcomed 679,970 international students. Of these, 120,140 hailed from the European Union (EU), while 559,825 came from non-EU countries. The numbers reflect a tale of two trends: non-EU enrolments surged by 23.8% from the previous year, while EU numbers dropped by 21.4%, a clear echo of Brexit’s impact after freedom of movement ended in January 2021.

China remains the top sending country, with 151,690 students, followed by India at 126,535 and Nigeria at 44,195. From the EU, France (11,870) and Italy (11,320) lead the pack.

Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 sending countries:

New Faces on Campus: Enrolment Trends

New enrolments in 2021-22 reveal shifting priorities among international students. China led with 99,965 first-year students, though growth was modest at 0.8%. India, however, saw a dramatic 64.2% increase to 87,045 new students, while Nigeria’s numbers soared by 130.9% to 32,945. Within the EU, declines were universal—Ireland’s 4,415 new enrolments fell by just 3.4%, but Romania plummeted by 82.3%.

The academic level tells another story. First-year undergraduate enrolments dropped 11% to 114,965, with EU students falling 62.6% and non-EU rising 11.9%. Postgraduate enrolments, however, jumped 31.8% to 266,760, driven by a 42.7% increase in non-EU students. Postgraduate taught (PGT) programs saw the most growth, with non-EU PGT students up 42.8% to 303,375.

Crossing Borders: Study Visa Insights

The Home Office granted 446,924 sponsored study visas in the year ending March 2024, a 6.2% dip from the 2023 peak of 498,626 but a 66% rise from 2019. India took the lead with 116,455 visas, edging out China’s 108,582, while Nigeria followed with 35,331. Nepal (up 70.1%) and Pakistan (up 23.1%) showed the sharpest increases among the top 20 nationalities.

For EEA and Swiss students, now requiring visas post-Brexit, 22,527 were granted—5% of the total. Germany (4,019) and France (3,857) led this group.

Staying On: The Graduate Route Boom

Since its introduction in July 2021, the Graduate route has allowed students to stay in the UK for two or three years post-study. In the year ending March 2024, 139,175 visas were granted, a 48.5% increase from 2023. India dominated with roughly 64,426 grants (46.3%), while Nigeria (up 121.8%) and Pakistan (up 88.4%) saw explosive growth. EEA and Swiss students also joined in, with 1,707 visas granted.

Conclusion

The UK’s international student landscape is a study in contrasts. With 679,970 students in 2021-22 and 446,924 study visas in 2024, the sector thrives on non-EU growth—particularly from India and Nigeria—bolstered by the Graduate route’s allure. Yet, EU declines and a recent visa dip hint at challenges, from Brexit’s fallout to possible saturation after years of expansion.

As the next HESA data looms, these figures offer a foundation for what’s to come. Will the UK sustain its global edge? The answer lies in balancing recruitment innovation with evolving policies—a challenge it’s met before and will likely meet again.