There were 360,700 sponsored study visa main applicants in the year ending August 2026 – 16% lower compared to the same point in the previous year, data released by the Home Office today shows.
The figures point to a worrying trend, given that study visa applications tend to peak in August ahead of the academic year beginning in September. There is also another seasonal peak in December, just before the January intake.
The number of applications from the dependants of students has also remained low, at a 22% drop on the previous year, the data shows.
It follows an almost outright ban on international students’ ability to bring their dependants to the UK with them – although this is still possible for some research and PhD studdents.
Responding to the figures, Russell Group chief executive Libby Hackett said the data “underlines the volatility in the international student market”.
“Successive government policies, including the previous leadership’s proposed tax on international students, are no doubt contributing to the change we’re now seeing – a 30% decline in applications across the sector this calendar year so far compared to three years ago,” she said.
Successive government policies, including the previous leadership’s proposed tax on international students, are no doubt contributing to the change we’re now seeing
Libby Hackett, Russell Group
Hackett called for a “periof of stability” in immigration policies – urging new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to take “quick and decisive action” to reverse the policy.
“The volatility in international recruitment also demonstrates why linking this to the funding of maintenance grants does not make sense,” she pointed out.
