The United Kingdom, recognized as the second-best country in terms of Nobel laureates and home to four of the world’s top ten universities according to the prestigious QS World University Ranking, is experiencing a decline in attractiveness for international students.
British universities take pride in training leaders worldwide. Data shows that in 2023, more than a quarter of the world’s countries, including 58 nations, were governed by individuals educated in the UK, with only the USA having more leaders at 65.
While the high quality of education, academic reputation, and prestige of courses continue to attract thousands of international students each year, the current reality is increasingly challenging. High tuition fees have been exacerbated by the effects of Brexit, which marked the UK’s departure from the European Union, as well as rising inflation and restrictions imposed by the current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The recent changes to the visa policy for students in the United Kingdom have introduced new restrictions that significantly undermine the benefits for international students. These changes include a reduction in favorable conditions for graduates to remain and work in the country, as well as limitations on the ability to bring family members.
Currently, students who have completed their studies can stay in the UK to work for up to two years with a Post-Study Work Visa (or three years for doctoral graduates). However, during this period, it is no longer possible to include dependent family members on the visa. Dependents include children under 18, spouses or partners, and elderly parents requiring long-term care.
In addition to high tuition fees, international students in the UK face substantial additional costs, such as rent, transportation, food, and other basic needs. These extra expenses can easily reach or even exceed the amount of tuition fees.
Alexandra Flores, a Peruvian student who came to the UK in 2021 to study fashion marketing and journalism at the Metropolitan University of London, shared her experience: “I paid $17,000 per year. Although that’s not exorbitant for an international student in London, the visa costs nearly $800, and there are also unexpected expenses like health insurance. I had to pay $22,000 for that over three years,” she said.
These reports illustrate how the costs associated with education in the UK extend far beyond tuition fees and how international students face a complex and often challenging financial environment.
In January 2024, a significant part of the UK government’s strategy under Rishi Sunak took effect to reduce immigration by ending “the irrational practice of allowing international students to bring their families to the UK,” as stated by Home Secretary James Cleverly. He added that this measure would lead to a rapid decline in migration by tens of thousands.
Lavina Chainani, co-founder of Pop Your Bubble, a company that facilitates the movement and integration of expats, points to another factor that increases the difficulty of accessing UK universities: the projected 25% increase in the population of 18-year-olds by 2030. Chainani estimates that this demographic growth will further restrict available places for international students, making the admissions process even more competitive and challenging.
The UK government has also committed to reviewing the amount of funds that international students must demonstrate to prove their financial ability to support themselves during their stay. Additionally, some universities impose specific requirements on the number of hours students can work, which limits these students’ ability to earn sufficient income to support their lives in the UK.
With a student visa, international students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during holidays. However, they are now prohibited from switching their visa to a work visa until they have completed their studies, even if they receive a job offer. This additional restriction makes it even harder for those who wish to remain in the country after graduation.
Alexandra Flores used all her holidays to work in Lima and save significantly to finance her return to London. Her classmate in journalism, Sara Valle from Spain, tried to balance her courses with work. Valle reported, “In the first year, I could work because the pace wasn’t so intense. I was still at the beginning; there were assignments and many activities, but it was possible to combine everything. In the second year, I had to juggle. In the third year, which is the last one, I reached a point where I had to reduce my workload and use some savings.”
These difficulties highlight the impact of the new rules and restrictions on the experiences of international students, who find themselves in an increasingly complex and often challenging financial environment that reduces competition and demand for places at UK institutions.
All these factors have led to a significant decline in the number of student visas issued in the UK. By the end of March 2024, the number of visas issued fell by 6%, and the number of postgraduate students dropped by about a third.
The platform Enroly, used by one in three international students to apply for courses, reported that 24 UK universities saw a 57% decline in enrollment numbers by May, as reported by the Financial Times. These challenges have visibly affected the attractiveness of the UK for international students, who are facing an increasingly challenging financial and logistical environment, which reduces competition and demand for places at British institutions.
The fight against illegal immigration is a central concern of the Conservative Party. When Rishi Sunak took office as Prime Minister in October 2022, he promised a drastic reduction in illegal immigration. Jones highlights that “it’s much easier to measure the number of students arriving since they pass through airports with their passports than to count the number of people arriving in the UK on inflatable boats from France. But everything gets lumped together.”
These political measures and perceptions shape the experiences of international students and influence their decisions about where to study while the government tries to align its policies with its electoral priorities.
And what happens next? Alexandra Flores, who graduated in June this year, now faces the challenge of entering the job market. As a Peruvian with a student visa, she can stay in the UK but must apply for a two-year post-study work visa.
Moreover, the job market in the UK for those under 25 is not in the best shape, making the situation for fresh graduates seeking opportunities even more challenging. The difficult conditions and restrictive policies increasingly complicate the situation for international students in the country.
