Overview

UK international recruitment, at a glance

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Enrolment trend

Total UK intl students

Total international students enrolled at UK universities each year. Source: HESA.

485k

2020

605k

2021

680k

2022

752k

2023

729k

2024

686k

2025

Visa Refusal Tracker

% of visa applications refused in 2025 — e.g. 16% means 1 in 6 applicants was refused

Higher rates indicate greater compliance risk for universities recruiting from these markets.

Pakistan

16.2%

Ghana

14.1%

Nigeria

10.5%

Sri Lanka

10.1%

Bangladesh

8.6%

Nepal

5.3%

India

2.9%

China

0.1%

Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending March 2026.

Latest briefings

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Briefing

Graduate Route review

2025-06

Home Office expected to publish findings Q3 2025. High impact for PG recruitment.

Source: Home Office

Briefing

Nepal surge

2026-01

Enrolments up 92% YoY to 17,385. Linked to Australia visa tightening.

Source: HESA

Briefing

PG taught decline

2026-01

Non-UK PG taught entrants down 10% — second consecutive annual fall.

Source: HESA

Briefing

Canada caps

2025-03

Canada capped international enrolments — potential demand shift to UK Masters.

Source: IRCC Canada