General

New information from the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) reveals a significant change in the pattern of international students. The number of foreign students in the United Kingdom has decreased, while enrollments in UK programs offered overseas are increasing quickly. HESA's recent figures show that, in 2024/25, the UK welcomed 685,565 international students, marking a 6 percent drop from 2023/24. Data from the UK Home Office indicates that by the end of September 2025, there were 439,924 sponsored study visas granted. This number is similar to the previous year but represents a 31% decrease from the peak reached in the year ending September 2023. Among these, there were 419,558 main applicants, which is a 7% increase compared to the year ending September 2024, and 20,366 dependants, which is 57% less than the previous year. The decline in student visas is occurring as universities prepare for a new international student levy. This levy will require English universities to charge a flat fee of £925 for each international student every year, starting in August 2028. Each institution will only get an allowance for its first 220 students annually. Recent data shows that Sri Lankan students pursuing postgraduate studies in the UK experienced a notable decline. The latest statistics reveal that overall international postgraduate enrollments dropped by 10 percent in 2024/25. Among the main countries sending students, Sri Lanka had the second-largest drop in postgraduate enrollments, falling by 36 percent compared to the previous year. Nigeria saw the largest decline, with a 39 percent decrease in postgraduate enrollments. This significant downturn is largely attributed to changes in UK immigration and student visa regulations, especially the stricter rules for international student dependants that started in 2023.