National statistics

Why do people come to the UK? To study

Published 23 February 2023

‘Immigration system statistics, year ending December 2022’ contents page.

This is not the latest release. View latest release.

Data relate to 2022 and all comparisons are with the calendar year 2019 (unless indicated otherwise), reflecting a comparison with the period prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Year ending comparisons that follow will include impacts resulting from the restrictions in place during this period of the pandemic.

Recent changes in visa numbers

There are a range of events / developments that are likely to have impacted visa numbers recently (such as COVID-19 and the end of free movement with the EU, alongside policy changes and the introduction of new Protection visas). This means that the Home Office visa statistics at present, include a larger degree of uncertainty around the overall trends. For further discussion and detail see ‘Recent changes to visa numbers in Home Office data’.

1. Sponsored study visas granted to main applicants

In 2022, there were 485,758 sponsored study visas granted to main applicants, 81% more than in 2019.

There were 29% more sponsored study visas granted in 2022 compared to 2021. However, changes over recent years will reflect changes in travel patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic, so comparisons should be treated with caution at this point.

Figure 1: Sponsored study visas granted to main applicants between 2013 and 2022, by nationality grouping

Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D02

Figure 1 shows that between 2013 and 2022, there has been an overall increase in sponsored study visa grants to main applicants.

Between 2019 and 2020, there was a decrease in visa grants mainly due to travel restrictions following the pandemic, but the year 2020 still had a similar number of sponsored study grants as the years to 2016.

The number of students granted a visa has since greatly increased and reached a new high in 2022.

The most recent Higher Education Statistics Authority’s (HESA) student statistics report (for entrants to UK higher education providers) covers the 2021 to 2022 academic year (August 2021 to July 2022). Between academic years 2020 to 2021, and 2021 to 2022, there was an increase of 74,840 (+12%) non-UK student enrolments, to 679,970. This was largely driven by an increase in non-EU students from 452,225 to 559,825 (+24%). This contrasts to the Home Office visa data, which shows a larger increase in demand for sponsored study visas over a similar period (+63% granted in the year ending June 2022 (405,779) compared to the year ending June 2021 (249,645), after a significant fall during COVID-19). This suggests that the recent rise in visa numbers are more pronounced and reflect both effects of emerging from the pandemic, alongside the steadier growth of enrolments from foreign nationals in the higher education sector.

From January 2021, following the UKs departure from the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals were required to obtain visas to undertake sponsored study in the UK. EEA and Swiss nationals were granted over 22,000 visas in 2022, the first full year (or 5% of the total study visas in that year). Between 2021 and 2022, visa grants increased by 31% for non-EEA nationals, with EEA nationals remaining similar (+2%) to the previous year.

Although many students will travel to the UK to undergo study, a number study from overseas and, therefore, do not require an entry clearance visa. According to HESA data, in the academic year 2021 to 2022, there were 532,460 students either registered at a UK higher education (HE) provider or studying for an award of a UK HE provider whilst living overseas: 16% (83,710) within the EU and 84% (448,750) outside the EU.

There were 139,539 sponsored study visa grants to Indian nationals in 2022, an increase of 105,278 (+307%) compared to 2019 (34,261). Chinese nationals were the second most common nationality granted sponsored study visas in 2022, with 102,842 visas grants, 14% fewer than the 119,231 in 2019. Chinese and Indian nationals together comprise half (50%) of all sponsored study grants.

Of the top 5 nationalities granted sponsored study visas, Bangladeshi nationals saw the largest percentage increase in grants, increasing from 1,745 to 15,277, closely followed by Nigerian nationals whose number increased from 6,798 to 59,053.

Figure 2: Sponsored study visas granted to main applicants between year ending December 2017 and year ending December 2022 (top 5 nationalities)

Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D02

The Graduate route was introduced on 1 July 2021 and 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. It is an in-country visa extension, and therefore allows the student to apply from the UK, without returning overseas. A Graduate visa lasts for 2 years, or 3 years in the case of completing a PhD or other doctoral qualification. A total of 72,893 Graduate route extensions were granted to previous students in 2022. 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.

1.1 Sponsored study visas granted to European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals

From 1 January 2021, changes in the immigration rules mean that EEA and Swiss (excluding Irish) nationals now require a visa to study in the UK.

In 2022, there were a total of 22,765 sponsored study visas granted to EEA and Swiss students, an increase of 343 (2%) compared to 2021 (the first full year of visa requirements for EEA and Swiss nationals). This was 5% of the total number of overseas Student visas granted during 2022.

Of all EEA and Swiss nationals, German students received the most sponsored study visa grants (4,120, 18% of total), followed by French students (4,086, 18% of total) and Spanish students (3,225, 14% of total). Together these 3 nationalities accounted for half (50%) of all EEA and Swiss grants of sponsored study visas in 2022.

2. Dependants of sponsored study visa holders

Under some circumstances, sponsored study visa holders may be able to bring partners and children (‘dependants’) to the UK. In this section, sponsored study related visas refer to visas granted to primary sponsored study visa holders and their dependants.

In 2022, more than one fifth (22%) of all sponsored study related visas granted were to dependants of students (135,788), compared to 6% (16,047) in 2019, as shown in Figure 3.

Since 2019, both the total number of dependants and the proportion of all sponsored study related visas granted to dependants have increased. This may reflect a change in the composition of students, if for example, there are a greater number of older students attracted to study in the UK.

Figure 3: Visas granted to dependants of sponsored study visa holders by nationality, and percentage of all sponsored study related visas for dependants, 2019 to 2022

Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D02

Figure 3 shows that Nigeria had the highest number of dependants (60,923) of sponsored study visa holders in 2022, increasing from 1,586 in 2019. Indian nationals had the second highest number of dependants, increasing from 3,135 to 38,990. There were almost 120,000 dependant visas granted to the top 5 nationalities (Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) in 2022.

When looking at the proportional change in visa grants to dependants, by nationality, Nigeria saw a large increase in the proportion of sponsored study related visas granted to dependants, from 19% in 2019, to 51% in 2022. Indian nationals also saw an increase in the proportion of dependants, from 8% to 22%.

Outside of the top 5 nationalities, the increase in proportion was more modest (from 4% to 6%).

3. Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) used for sponsored study visas to main applicants

This section relates to the number of ‘Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies’ (CAS) used in applications for sponsored study visas. This presents the number of students applying to study in the main educational sectors (comparisons are made with the year ending September 2019, due to data issues between October to December 2019 and April to June 2020 see section 5.4 for details. A CAS is considered ‘used’ when an applicant receives a decision on their visa application.

In 2022, the total number of CAS used in a study visa application was 484,358. This was 87% higher than the year ending September 2019 (258,787), prior to the pandemic.

The vast majority of CAS used (91%) were for sponsored study at higher education (university) institutions, with the total divided between:

• higher education (91%)
• further education (4%)
• independent schools (3%)
• English language schools (2%)
• other (1%)

Figure 4: Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) used for sponsored study visas by institution, year ending September 2019 compared to 2022

Source: Study sponsorship (Confirmation of acceptance for Studies) – CAS_D01

Figure 4 shows that higher education institutions are the most common educational institutions applied for from overseas. Higher education institutions almost doubled from 222,047 to 439,458 in 2022, compared to the year ending September 2019, which corroborates the increase seen in study visas granted over the same period. All other institutions combined increased by 22%, from 36,740 to 44,900.

Higher education institutions can be divided between Russell group universities and non-Russell group universities. Non-Russell group universities now make up 62% of all CAS used in sponsored study visa applications, increasing by 186,679 (+165%) compared with the year ending September 2019. Russell group universities had a more modest increase of 28%, from 109,113 to 139,845.

4. Short term study

In addition to those coming on sponsored study visas, there were 5,005 short-term study visas granted in 2022 (for English language courses lasting longer than 6 months and up to 11 months).

Not every person will require a visa for short-term study in the UK. For example, non-visa nationals are permitted up to 6 months of short-term study and will not be included in the number of short-term study visas. Data on non-visa nationals coming for short-term study is not currently available but prior to the pandemic the largest numbers arriving by this route were nationals of the United States.

People who require a visa to come to the UK can now apply for a Standard Visitor visa (as of December 2020), for short-term courses lasting up to 6 months, and are included in the visitor visa data. People arriving on this route are not allowed to bring family members (‘dependants’).

5. 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 freedom of movement for European Union (EU) nationals, the vast majority of UK immigration control statistics related to non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals. From 2021, unless otherwise stated, the statistics 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.

5.1 Student (sponsored study)

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

5.2 Child Student (sponsored study)

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

5.3 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 5 October 2020 and has been replaced with the Student and Child student routes.

5.4 Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

From October to December 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 January to March 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 decided sponsorship applications in the 4 main educational sectors: universities (higher education), further education, independent schools and English language schools.

5.5 Short-term study

The current Short-term study visa (previously described as ‘Student visitor’) is for English language courses lasting longer than 6 months and up to 11 months. Individuals with this visa cannot extend their stay. People coming to the UK for short-term courses (lasting up to 6 months) can apply for a Standard Visitor visa. 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).

5.6 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 but have released provisional experimental statistics for the year ending June 2021.

In January 2023, HESA published its latest ‘Higher Education Student Statistics UK’ for the academic year 2021 to 2022. HESA publishes data on new entrants to UK higher education providers for both EEA and non-EEA nationals.

6. Data tables

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

• Sponsorship summary tables
• Detailed sponsorship datasets
• Entry clearance visas summary tables
• Detailed Entry clearance visas datasets
• Admissions summary tables
• Extensions summary tables
• Detailed extensions datasets

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