India has overtaken China as the largest country for sponsored study visas in the UK. Nearly 118,000 Indian students received a student visa in the year ending June 2022, an increase of 89% from 2021, reports the latest UK Immigration Statistics published on 25 August 2022.
Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said:
“India first again. I’m delighted that Indian nationals were issued the largest number of UK study, work and visitor visas in the year ending June 2022..............
As this shows, we’re experiencing unprecedented demand for visas. I encourage students starting courses soon to apply as early as possible.”
The 117,965 study visa granted to Indian nationals in the year ending June 2022 is a increase of 80,569 (+215%) compared to 2019. For the first time since year ending 2011, Indian nationals have surpassed Chinese nationals as the nationality with the highest number of Sponsored study visa grants to study in the UK.
No | Nationality | Y/E 2019 | Y/E June 2022 | Difference | % Difference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | India | 37,396 | 117,965 | +80,569 | +215% |
2 | China | 119,825 | 115,056 | -4,769 | -4% |
3 | Nigeria | 8,384 | 65,929 | +57,545 | +686% |
4 | Pakistan | 4,927 | 23,490 | +18,563 | + 377% |
5 | USA | 14,837 | 16,137 | +1,300 | +9% |
6 | Other | 99,352 | 148,291 | +48,939 | +49% |
Total | 284,721 | 486,868 | +202,147 | +71% |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes Vis_D02
1. ‘Other nationalities’ includes all nationalities that don’t feature in the top 5 in the Y/E June 2022.
2. Nigerian nationals saw the largest relative increase in Sponsored Study visa grants compared with 2019, increasing from 8,384 to a record high of 65,929 (nearly an eight- fold increase).
3. Pakistani nationals saw a large increase, rising by 377% with 23,490 student visas granted across this period.
4. Chinese nationals saw a decrease of 4,769 (-4%) to 115,056 grants making China second to India.
5. Students of Indian and Chinese nationality comprise 48 per cent of all sponsored study visas granted by the UK.
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