Foreign students are making a comeback in the UK as study visas rise despite stricter rules

After years of fluctuating numbers, foreign students appear to be making a cautious comeback to the UK. Latest Home Office data reveals an 18% rise in total study visas issued in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Yet, beneath the headline growth lies a nuanced story of policy-driven shifts, changing student demographics, and a higher education sector adapting to a new reality.

Asia leads the resurgence

Chinese and Indian students are at the forefront of this revival. In the year ending June 2025, 99,919 Chinese students, comprising 24% of all study visas, chose the UK, while 98,014 Indian students followed closely, also accounting for 24%, according to media reports.

Together, these two nationalities now represent nearly half of all study visa holders, highlighting the UK’s enduring appeal in Asia.However, the broader picture reveals a contraction. Sponsored study visas, including main applicants and dependants, totalled 431,725, down 18% from the previous year. Main applicants numbered 413,921, a slight 4% decline, while dependants dropped dramatically to 17,804, marking an 81% year-on-year fall.

Masters programs dominate student choices

The UK continues to attract students seeking advanced degrees, particularly master’s programs. Over the past five years, master’s level study has accounted for over 60% of study visas. In 2025, 81% of Indian students arrived for master’s courses, whereas 59% of Chinese students opted for similar programs, reflecting a more diversified approach among Chinese applicants.Visa numbers peaked in the year ending June 2023 at 652,072, buoyed by both main applicants and their dependants.

The subsequent decline has been driven largely by tighter restrictions on dependants rather than diminished interest in academic study itself.

Seasonal trends and policy implications

Study visas follow predictable seasonal surges, peaking in August ahead of the academic year, with a secondary rise in December. Applications from main applicants in the year ending July 2025 numbered 428,900, 3% lower than the previous year. Dependants’ applications, however, plunged to 20,200, an 86% drop since December 2023.This sharp fall mirrors the January 2024 policy change restricting dependants to postgraduate research students or those on government-funded scholarships. The shift has fundamentally altered the composition of international students, curbing the number of partners and children joining students in the UK.

Understanding the decline

Policy reform is the primary driver behind the reduction in visas post-2024. Limiting dependants has not only affected those accompanying students but may also have influenced main applicant numbers, though less dramatically.

Visa volumes are shaped by multiple factors, including immigration rules, global economic conditions, tuition affordability, and geopolitical circumstances.The decline signals a shift toward a more academically focused student cohort, with fewer family units accompanying applicants. This transformation has broad implications for university housing, local economies, and campus life.

The road ahead for UK higher education

The UK’s international education sector is at a pivotal juncture.

Chinese and Indian students dominate the inflow, while policy changes have streamlined student demographics. Universities must innovate to maintain global competitiveness, balancing accessibility with regulatory compliance.While foreign students are returning, the landscape is no longer the same as the pre-pandemic or pre-policy change eras. The reduction in dependants and the dominance of postgraduate study indicate a strategic shift in the UK’s international student ecosystem, one that will continue to evolve in the coming years.As the UK navigates these changes, its ability to attract top global talent while accommodating policy restrictions will define its standing in the competitive international education arena.