LONDON: A recent report from the Office for Students (OfS) has highlighted a significant decline in the number of Indian students applying to UK universities. Data from the UK Home Office reveals a 20.4% drop in Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) issued to Indian students, with numbers falling from 139,914 in 2022-23 to 111,329 in 2023-24. This decline comes as universities, already grappling with financial constraints, face challenges in attracting international students.
The report also indicates a broader trend, with an 11.8% decrease in sponsor acceptances for international students overall. Nigerian student numbers saw an even steeper drop of 44.6%. OfS warns that institutions heavily reliant on students from India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh are at risk of financial instability, projecting a potential sector deficit of £1.6 billion by 2025-26 if current trends continue without significant intervention.
The Indian National Students’ Association (INSA) UK attributes the decline to multiple factors, including the UK government’s restrictions on international students bringing dependents, limited job prospects, and recent safety concerns following anti-immigration riots. INSA President Amit Tiwari emphasized that unless these issues are addressed, UK universities may struggle to maintain their appeal to Indian students, a group that has overtaken Chinese students in study visa grants in recent years.
Sanam Arora, chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, pointed to confusion around the Graduate Route post-study work visa and rising skilled worker salary thresholds as additional deterrents. Arora stressed the need for universities to enhance employability support and improve communication about opportunities in the UK to remain competitive and address the growing concerns among prospective students.
