National statistics

Why do people come to the UK? To study

Published 26 May 2022

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Data relate to the year ending March 2022 and most comparisons are with the year ending March 2020 (two years previous, reflecting a comparison with the period prior to the Covid-pandemic). All data include dependents, unless indicated otherwise.

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic. A range of restrictions were implemented in many parts of the world, and the first UK lockdown measures were announced on 23 March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the UK immigration system, both in terms of restricting migrant movements to and from the UK and the impact on operational capacity.

Year ending comparisons that follow will reflect the restrictions in place during this period of the pandemic.

This section contains data on:

  • Sponsored study visas
  • Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) by education sector
  • Short-term students

1. Immigration for study

In the year ending March 2022, there were 466,611 Sponsored study visas granted (to both main applicants and their dependants), 58% (+170,368) more than the year ending March 2020. Please note that year-on-year changes have been impacted by changes to travel plans and patterns due to the pandemic so should be treated with caution.

The number of Sponsored study visas granted in the year ending March 2022 is the largest on record. Each year ending period since September 2020 have seen successive increases in Sponsored study grants, with the peak in the current year being a continuation of this trend. The latest increase represents both a recovery from lower numbers during the Covid-19 pandemic and an increase on the pre-pandemic period.

Figure 1: Sponsored study visa grants, year ending by quarter, March 2010 to March 2022

Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D02

Figure 1 shows that Sponsored study visa grants initially peaked in the year ending June 2010. Grants fell a year later, and from 2012 remained broadly level at around 225,000 each year until 2018. From the year ending September 2018 to the year ending March 2020, sponsored study grants increased steadily to a high of almost 300,000. This was followed by a sharp decrease during the pandemic, with the year ending September 2020 showing the lowest number of sponsored study grants since this statistical series began. The number of students granted a visa have recovered strongly, and currently sit at a new high of 466,611 in the year ending March 2022.

Since 1st January 2021, EEA and Swiss (excluding Irish) nationals starting a course require a study visa. There have been 23,685 Sponsored study visa grants to EEA and Swiss students since this date (see section 1.1 for details).

Figure 2: Number of Sponsored study visas granted, by month, 2020 - 2022

Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D02

Applications and grants have very likely moved to later months due to the impact of the pandemic on students plans and this will have had a significant impact on the year-on-year comparisons and overall total this year.

Figure 2 shows the effect of COVID-19 on Sponsored study grants. In April and May 2020 there were no grants. Study grants began to recover in autumn, in line with the start of the academic term. 2021 and 2022 show the sustained recovery from COVID-19. The first three months of 2022 are higher than 2021, resulting in the current period having the highest number of study grants on record.

There are a few possible explanations as to why the statistics have followed these patterns.

Students who, due to the pandemic either deferred starting a course, took a break from studying and are now resuming, or began a course by distance learning last year and did not choose to apply for a visa at that point could be returning to in-person educational settings. There may also be some continued growth in the trend of international students applying for visas to study, as from 2017 until the pandemic there had been a strong annual growth in student visas, averaging at approximately 10% per annum over the period. Additionally, changes to immigration rules regarding study visas over this period, such as the introduction of the new graduate route (see section 1.1 below), may have also encouraged increased numbers of applications and grants.

Chinese nationals were the most common nationality granted Sponsored study visas in the year ending March 2022, with 116,967 visas granted, similar to the number seen in the year ending March 2020 (118,291). Although the overall number was similar, Chinese students accounted for only 25% of the total number of Sponsored study visas granted, the lowest proportion since the year ending March 2012 and much lower than the peak of 43% in the year ending September 2019. COVID-19 restrictions were implemented early in China, from January 2020, and therefore may have disproportionately affected the number of study grants to Chinese students in 2020. Before travel restrictions were implemented, there had been a steady rise in the number and proportion of Sponsored study visas granted to Chinese nationals since 2009.

There were 107,978 grants to Indian nationals in the year ending March 2022, almost double (+93%) the number compared to the previous year and 122% higher than the year ending March 2020. Indian nationals remain the nationality with the second highest number of Sponsored study visa grants. Chinese and Indian nationals together comprise almost half (48%) of all Sponsored study grants.

For the other top 5 nationalities, Nigerian nationals saw the largest percentage increase in Sponsored Study grants compared with the year ending March 2020, increasing by 49,532 (+529%) to a record high of 58,887, making them the third largest nationality group in the last year. Pakistani nationals also saw a large increase of 15,701 in this period (+277%). By contrast, United States nationals saw a modest increase of 1,191 (+8%) on the year ending March 2020. Additionally, grants to Bangladeshi nationals increased from 2,660 to 13,914 (+423%) compared with the year ending March 2020. This made Bangladeshi nationals the sixth largest nationality amongst those granted a student visa.

Top 5 nationalities 1 granted Sponsored study visas, years ending March 2020, March 2021 and March 2022

Nationality Year ending March 2020 Year ending March 2021 Year ending March 2022 Percentage change 2020/2022 Percentage change 2021/2022
China 118,291 87,128 116,967 -1% +34%
India 48,639 55,903 107,978 +122% +93%
Nigeria 9,355 17,366 58,887 +529% +239%
Pakistan 5,671 8,641 21,372 +277% +147%
United States 14,671 8,315 15,862 +8% +91%
Other Nationalities 99,616 72,120 145,545 +46% +102%
Total 296,243 249,473 466,611 +58% +87%

Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes Vis_D02

Notes:

  1. Top 5 nationalities in the most recent year.

  2. ‘Other nationalities’ includes all nationalities that don’t feature in the top 5 in the latest year.

Those coming on Sponsored study visas brought fewer dependants than skilled workers, with 84% of the visas issued being to main applicants, compared with 67% for Work visas.

There were 72,554 Sponsored study grants to dependants in the year ending March 2022. This was over four times (+308%) the 17,766 grants seen in the year ending March 2020. Dependants saw a larger relative increase compared to main applicants, who increased by 42% (+115,580) from the year ending March 2020.

In addition to those coming on sponsored visas, there were 5,191 Short-term Study visas granted in 2021. This was 111,911 fewer (-96%) than the year ending March 2020, which had a pre-pandemic total of 117,102 in year ending March 2020. The subsequent reduction is similar to the reductions seen in visitor numbers and, as for other types of visas, this decrease is likely due to restrictions on international travel during the pandemic. Changes to the visitor route mean that up to 6-months short term study now fall under the visit visa, which may have had a modest effect on the number of Short-term study visa grants in combination with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not every person will require a visa for short-term study in the UK. For example, non-visa nationals are permitted up to six months of short-term study and will not be included in the number of short-term study visas. Data on all nationalities (e.g. both visa and non-visa nationalities) coming for short-term study is not currently available but prior to the pandemic the largest numbers arriving by this route were Americans.

In 2020, 37,873 former Tier 4 Child Student or Tier 4 General Student visa holders extended their leave in the UK, either for further study or to remain in the UK for other reasons, such as for marriage or work.

In August 2020, the Home Office published its ‘Fifth report on statistics relating to exit checks’, which showed that the vast majority (97%) of those with Sponsored study (Tier 4) visas expiring in the year ending March 2020, were known to have departed from the UK before their visa expired.

1.1 The effects of new rules on the immigration system (study)

From the 1st of January 2021, changes in the immigration rules mean that EEA and Swiss (excluding Irish) nationals require a visa to study in the UK. In the year ending March 2022 there were a total of 23,395 Sponsored study visa grants to EEA and Swiss students, 5% of the total number of overseas student visas issued in this period. This is a more modest proportion compared to work visas, which saw 33,292 work visas granted to EEA and Swiss nationals in the same period, 12% of the total for work.

For EEA and Swiss nationals, French students had the highest number of Sponsored study grants (4,247, 18% of total), followed by students from Germany (3,966, 17% of total) and Spain (3,586, 15% of total). Together these three nationalities accounted for (50%) of all EEA and Swiss grants to study in the year ending March 2022.

The new Graduate route was introduced on 01 July 2021, which allows students who have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course to stay in the UK for a period after their studies to work or look for work. A Graduate visa lasts for two years, or three years in the case of completing a PhD or other doctoral qualification. Further information on the number of extensions granted in this category can be found in the ‘How many people continue their stay in the UK or apply to stay permanently’ topic.

This section relates to the number of Certificates of Acceptance for Study (CAS) used in main applications for study visas which allow us to present the numbers of students applying to study in the main different educational sectors.

In the year ending March 2022 the total number CAS used in study visa applications was 371,065. This was a 61% increase on the 231,099 seen in the year ending March 2019. Due to data quality issues between Q4 2019 – Q2 2020 (see section 2.4 for details) the comparison period is the year ending March 2019. A more detailed breakdown can be found in the detailed sponsorship tables.

The vast majority of visas (90%) are for study at Higher Education (university) institutions, with the total divided between:

  • Higher education (90%)
  • Independent schools (4%)
  • Further education (3%)
  • English language schools (2%)
  • Other (1%)

Almost all (99%) of the 139,966 increase on the year ending March 2019, was seen in Higher Education institutions, with Non-Russell group universities accounting for almost three-quarters (74%) of the total increase. Non-Russell group universities now make up 55% of all CAS used, increasing by 103,270 (+104%) on the year ending March 2019. This is the highest proportion of Non-Russell group CAS seen since the beginning of the time series in 2010.

The most recent Higher Education Statistics Authority’s (HESA) student statistics report covers the 2020 to 2021 academic year, and reported a 6% increase in all first-year student enrolments in academic year 2020 to 2021. Between 2019/20 and 2020/21 there was an increase of 48,500 non-UK student enrolments. This was largely driven by an increase in non-EU students.

2. About these statistics

The statistics in this section provide an indication of the number of people who have an intention to enter the UK for study reasons.

Before 2021, due to European Union (EU) freedom of movement principles, the majority of UK immigration control related to non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals. From 2021, unless otherwise stated, data in this release relate to both EEA and non-EEA nationals.

Entry clearance visas allow an individual to enter and stay in the UK within the period for which the visa is valid. Data in this section refer to the number of Entry clearance visas granted for study reasons within the period. If an individual was granted a visa more than once in a given period, this has been counted as multiple grants in the statistics.

The data does not show whether, or when, an individual arrived in the UK, what they did on arrival or how long they stayed in the UK.

Year-on-year comparisons of the number of decisions can be affected by quarterly fluctuations in the data. These fluctuations can be examined in the quarterly data in the published tables. Year ending comparisons will also include impacts resulting from the travel restrictions put in place during the pandemic.

2.1 Student (Sponsored study)

The Student visa has replaced the Tier 4 (General) Student visa as of 5th October 2020. It provides a route for students over the age of 16 to study with an approved education provider in the UK.

2.2 Child Student (Sponsored study)

The Child student visa has replaced the Tier 4 (Child) Student visa as of 5th October 2020. It provides a route for students between the ages of 4 and 17 years old to study at an approved independent school in the UK.

2.3 Tier 4 (Sponsored study)

Tier 4 (Sponsored study) provided a route for students to study with an approved education provider. It was implemented from 31 March 2009, replacing previous entry routes for study. It has been discontinued since 5th October 2020 and has been replaced with the Student and Child student routes.

2.4 Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

From Q4 2019, the method for extracting in-country and out-of-country CAS data has changed. Data quality issues identified as part of this change in methodology has meant that some cases from Q1 2020 onwards are unable to be separately identified as either a visa or extension case, and so have been categorised as ‘unknown’.

To apply for a Student visa or for an extension of stay as a student (sponsored), individuals must use a CAS from a sponsoring educational institution. Study visas applied for with a CAS are also referred to as ‘Sponsored visa applications’. Statistics relating to sponsored acceptances for study measure the number of successful sponsorship applications in the four main educational sectors: universities (higher education), further education, independent schools and English language schools.

2.5 Short-term study

The Short-term study visa (previously described as ‘Student visitor’) allows individuals to come to the UK for 6 months (or 11 months if they will be studying an English language course). Individuals with this visa cannot extend their stay. Admissions data shows considerably more Short-term student admissions from non-EEA nationals than Short-term student visas granted. This is due to many student visitor admissions being from nationalities that are not required to obtain a visa if they wish to come to the UK as a Short-term student for 6 months or less (such as US nationals).

2.6 Other sources

Until 2020, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published long-term international migration (LTIM) estimates in its ‘Migration Statistics Quarterly Report’ (latest data available is for the year ending March 2020). The ONS are currently reviewing their methods for measuring population and migration; see their blog post for more information on the latest developments to ONS population and migration data.

In January 2022, HESA published its latest ‘Higher Education Student Statistics UK’ for the academic year 2020 to 2021. HESA publishes data on new entrants to UK higher education providers for both EEA and non-EEA nationals.

3. Data tables

Data on student immigration can be found in the following tables:

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