Why do people come to the UK? To study
Updated 23 September 2022
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Data relate to the year ending June 2022 and all comparisons are with 2019 (unless indicated otherwise), reflecting a comparison with the period prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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 June 2022, there were 486,868 Sponsored study visas granted (including dependants), 71% more than in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic.
The number of Sponsored study visas granted in the year ending June 2022 is the highest on record since this time series began in 2005.These increases reflect the requirement for EEA and Swiss nationals to apply for an entry clearance visa following the end of free movement when the UK left the EU at the start of 2021, as well as the recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international travel.
Prior to the recent increases the highest number of student visas granted was 307,394 in the year ending June 2010.
Figure 1: Sponsored study visa grants, YE June 2013 to YE June 2022
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D02
Figure 1 shows that the number of Sponsored study visas granted remained broadly level at just over 200,000 grants a 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 due to the pandemic, with the year ending September 2020 showing the lowest number of sponsored study grants since the timeseries began. However, the numbers of students granted a visa have since recovered, and reached a new high of 486,868 in the year ending March 2022.
Since 1st January 2021, EEA and Swiss (excluding Irish) nationals coming to the UK to study require a ‘Study’ visa. There were 24,098 Sponsored study visa grants to EEA and Swiss students in the year ending June 2022, which is 5% of the total for this year (see section 1.1 for details) and contributes to the record increase, however there is still a 63% increase on 2019 even when EEA nationals are excluded.
There were 117,965 grants to Indian nationals in the year ending June 2022, an increase of 80,569 (+215%) compared to 2019. Indian nationals have passed Chinese nationals as the nationality with the highest number of Sponsored study visa grants for the first time since the year ending June 2011.
Chinese nationals were the second most common nationality granted Sponsored study visas in the year ending June 2022, with 115,056 visas granted, 4% lower than the number seen in 2019 (119,825).
Chinese and Indian nationals together comprise almost half (48%) of all Sponsored study grants.
Of the remaining nationalities in the top 5, Nigerian nationals saw the largest relative increase in Sponsored Study visa grants compared with 2019, increasing from 8,384 to a record high of 65,929 (nearly an eight-fold increase) making them the third largest nationality in the latest year. Pakistani nationals also saw a large increase, rising by 377% with 23,490 student visas granted across this period. In contrast, United States nationals saw a modest increase and accounted for 16,137 grants (+9%) in the year ending June 2022.
Table 1: Top 5 nationalities1,2 granted Sponsored study visas, 2019 compared to year ending June 2022
| Nationality | Year ending 2019 |
Year ending June 2022 |
Difference | Percentage Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 37,396 | 117,965 | +80,569 | +215% |
| China | 119,825 | 115,056 | -4,769 | -4% |
| Nigeria | 8,384 | 65,929 | +57,545 | +686% |
| Pakistan | 4,927 | 23,490 | +18,563 | +377% |
| United States | 14,837 | 16,137 | +1,300 | +9% |
| Other Nationalities | 99,352 | 148,291 | +48,939 | +49% |
| Total | 284,721 | 486,868 | +202,147 | +71% |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes Vis_D02
Notes:
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Top 5 nationalities in the most recent year.
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‘Other nationalities’ includes all nationalities that don’t feature in the top 5 in the latest year.
Those coming on Sponsored study visas bring relatively few dependants, with 83% of the visas issued being to main applicants, and therefore around one in six grants being to a dependent. In contrast, for Work visas, around two thirds of grants were to main applicants and one third to dependants. Nonetheless, the 81,089 grants to dependants of sponsored students in the year ending June 2022 was over five times the number in 2019.
In addition to those coming on sponsored visas, there were 5,056 Short-term Study visas granted in the year ending June 2022, 96% fewer than in 2019. 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 nationalities 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.
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 family reasons 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 for study on EEA and Swiss nationals
From the 1st of 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 the year ending June 2022 there were a total of 24,098 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 smaller proportion compared to work visas, which saw 32,413 work visas granted to EEA and Swiss nationals in the same period, 10% of the total for work.
Of EEA and Swiss nationals, French students had the highest number of Sponsored study grants (4,318, 18% of total), followed by German students (4,195, 17% of total) and Spanish students (3,722, 15% of total). Together these three nationalities accounted for over half (51%) of all EEA and Swiss grants to study in the year ending June 2022.
The new Graduate route was introduced on 01 July 2021, which allows students who have successfully completed a bachelors 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.
1.2 Sponsored study visa applications
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. (Comparisons are made with the year ending September 2019, due to data quality issues between Q4 2019 and Q2 2020. (see section 2.4 for details)
In the year ending June 2022 the total number CAS used in study visa applications was 387,852. This was a 50% increase on the 258,787 seen in the year ending September 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%)
Non-Russell group universities now make up 56% of all CAS used in study visa applications, increasing by 102,441 (+91%) compared with the year ending September 2019. This is the highest proportion of Non-Russell group CAS seen since the Sponsorship time series began 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:
- 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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