Nepalese, Pakistani students witness increase in UK visa approvals

As per the report, these two countries saw an increase in UK visa approvals for the year ending in June 2024. Nepal has become the UK's 6th biggest source of international students in this period, up by 63% over the last year.

Study in UK: While there are reports of a decline in international students' interest in studying in the UK, a new report has shown that now more students from Pakistan and Nepal are getting visa approvals from the UK.

As per the report of ApplyBoard, in the year ending in June 2024, a total of 34,000 students from Pakistan were issued UK study visas. The growth rate of Pakistan getting UK visas is higher by 32% as against last year. In the previous year, it was 17%. Pakistan has become the UK's third largest source of international students, surpassing the student numbers from Nigeria.

Nepal's students are also showing a great interest in studying in the UK. It has become the sixth biggest source of foreign students in the UK. In the year ending in June 2024, the number of students choosing to study in the UK from Nepal increased by 63% over the last year.

UK sees high applications withdrawn post dependents policy announcement

Following the announcement related to the dependents policy, the UK witnessed increased application withdrawal. In the year ending in June 2024, 6,000 main applicants withdrew their student visa application, up by 279% as against 2023. The countries whose students are losing interest in studying in the UK are Nigeria and Bangladesh, study visas for them declined by 44%.

Apart from changing policies in the UK, the declining GDP and currency fluctuations in students' home countries are also affecting the number of students who choose to study in the UK.

Indian students studying in UK dipped by 23%

As per the latest data by the Home Office, Indians are also losing interest in studying in the UK. The data suggested a 23% drop in the number of Indian students who chose to study in the UK.

Anuj Gupta, CEO of Youngrads, an online student recruitment platform, said, “Indian students are now hesitant to apply to UK universities for a Master’s degree due to stricter visa regulations implemented earlier this year. These regulations particularly affect their ability to sponsor family dependents, spouses, or children, as well as preventing students from switching to work visas until they finish their studies," as reported by Business Standard.

Read more:

• University of Southampton to offer 30 courses; Enroll over 5000 students in India campus
• Study in US: Apply for Wilson Centre Fellowships!