African Students’ Drop Threatens UK Universities

African students’ plunge is threatening UK Universities as it has witnessed a decline in the number of students wanting to study in the country.

African students’ decline in enrolling in universities in the United Kingdom has endangered the future of the universities in the country.

This development has made the country witness a deep plunge in the applications of African students and other international students wanting to study in the United Kingdom.

According to statistics released by the UK Home Office, there has been a significant decline in the number of study visa applications. Between January and March 2024, only 40,700 applications were received, indicating a substantial 79 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2023 when the UK received 72,800 study visa applications.

The drop can be linked to recent modifications in visa regulations designed to lower the amount of immigrants.

Notably, the prohibition on African students sponsoring dependants with their study visas has dissuaded many students including Nigerians from pursuing education in the UK.

In February 2024, UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service in the UK, revealed a notable 46% decrease in undergraduate study applications from Nigeria. This highlights the importance of residency, as well as the support of family and dependents, for international students throughout their academic journey and beyond.

StuRents, a student accommodation provider also reports a substantial demand loss in the purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) market due to visa requirements and a depreciating currency in some countries.

More Insights

A survey of 75 UK universities by the British Universities’ International Liaison Association revealed that nine out of 10 institutions had fewer international applications for the next academic year, with a 27% drop in total applications for taught postgraduate courses compared with the previous year.

Also, according to data from the UK government, the number of study visas granted to Nigerian citizens decreased by 63.4 percent by the conclusion of 2023. This decline in visa approvals can be attributed to the new visa restrictions announced by the UK in July 2023.

Data from Enroly, a student enrolment platform used by about a third of UK universities show that the trend of declining Indian and Nigerian demand in 2023 has carried through to 2024.

For Nigeria, universities issued 71 percent fewer Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies in the January 2024 intake compared with the previous year and deposits were also 22 percent lower than in 2023.

According to ICEF’s market intelligence on African student recruitment, UK business schools offering a range of postgraduate-taught programs are also experiencing the impact.

76 percent of 50 UK institutions responding to a Chartered Association of Business Schools survey said their non-EU enrolments had fallen in the January 2024 intake.

A Universities UK survey of 73 member universities found that on average, international student enrolments in postgraduate-taught courses starting in January 2024 were 44 percent lower than in January 2023.

What Is Expected

The UK Home Office plans to carefully observe the surge in student applications anticipated in August and September, which are traditional months for academic enrollment, to evaluate the complete effects of the recent policy adjustments.

Between August and September 2023, there were 278,200 study visa applications to the UK, 230,600 of which were main applications and 47,600 applications from dependants.

This figure was an approximated 6 percent increase from 2022 when the UK received 262,700 study visa applications, of which 220,800 were main applications and 41,900 from dependants.

Nigerians and other African students in the UK are expectant as the Home Office announced that the Graduate visa, which offers a 2-year unsponsored work permit for overseas graduates of British universities, is under review by the Migration Advisory Committee.