2024-05-03
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Schengen Countries
Dependent Ban Sparks Sharp Decline in UK Study Visa Applications
How changes to UK immigration rules are affecting international students
Dependent Ban Sparks Sharp Decline in UK Study Visa Applications
UK study visa applications have fallen to record lows since the pandemic, with 34,000 applications in the first three months of 2024. New rules banning masters taught students from bringing dependents have also led to a drop in total dependent study visa applications from 23,800 in January, February, and March 2022, to 6,700 in the first three months of this year. The Home Office warns that policy changes are dampening the appetite to study in the UK among prospective international students. Diana Beech, CEO of London Higher, believes that the drop in applications shows the impact of changes to the dependent visa, increased application fees and health surcharges, and the graduate visa review on international students' confidence in the UK. London Higher sees no reason for additional changes to the graduate route and hopes for a positive recommendation from the MAC.
