Student groups attribute this trend to limited job opportunities and security concerns following recent anti-immigrant riots in some cities

London: indian students applications are postponed UK universitiesAdding to the financial woes of educational institutions at a time when they are already struggling with tight budgets, a new report has emerged on the stability of the higher education sector. England revealed.

Based on UK Home Office data on confirmation of admissions for study (CAS) by UK providers from 2022-23 to 2023-24, analysis by the Office for Students (OfS) shows a 20.4 per cent drop in the number of Indian students. shows a decline – from 139,914 to 111,329 in 2023-24.

Indian student groups in the UK said the decline was expected due to limited job opportunities and security concerns following recent anti-immigrant riots in some cities.

The report by OfS, a non-departmental public body affiliated with the government’s Department for Education, states that “there has been a significant decline in student visa applications from non-UK students in some key source countries.”

“This data shows an 11.8 per cent drop in the total number of sponsored admissions awarded to international students, as well as significant differences between students of different nationalities, with the largest decline reported in the number of CASs awarded to Indian and Nigerian students at 28,585 (20 per cent) respectively ,4) and 25,897 (44.6 percent),” he said.

He warns that universities with financial models that are heavily dependent on students from countries such as India, Nigeria and Bangladesh will be significantly affected by this downward trend.

“The number of international students from certain countries sending significant numbers of students to study in the UK has decreased significantly,” warns the OfS.

“By 2025-26, based on current trends and not accounting for significant mitigating actions, we forecast a reduction in net income for the sector of GBP 3,445 million, and without significant mitigating actions, a sector-level shortfall of minus GBP 1,636 million. “Up to 72 percent of providers are exposed and 40 percent have low liquidity,” he adds.

The significant reduction in students from India is not surprising, given the government’s restrictions on foreign students being allowed to bring their dependent partners and spouses with them, the Indian National Students Association (INSA) UK said.

“Students are not allowed to bring their partners to the UK under the new policy and given the economic conditions here and recent stories of riots, the outlook for UK universities is bleak unless the government addresses this issue as they are heavily reliant on Indian students,” he said. INSA UK president Amit Tiwari.

Indians have overtaken the Chinese in recent years to become the leading issuer of study visas to the UK and are the largest group accessing the Graduate Route post-study work visa. to stay.

“Many reasons are contributing to the decline in numbers, including the Conservative Party’s ban on dependents, confusion over post-study work visas, increases in skilled worker salary thresholds and an apparent lack of jobs in the UK,” said National President Sanam Arora. . Indian Students and Alumni Association (NISAU) UK.

“We discovered the extent of misinformation that persists; “For the first time, security is also being raised as a concern… Universities need to ensure that they are communicating the UK offer adequately and at scale in India to clear up any ongoing confusion,” he said.

“Universities also need to invest significantly in employability support to remain competitive and provide students with a healthy, results-focused offer,” he added.