International student numbers drop in the UK
The number of international students enrolling in UK degree courses has seen a decline this year, a trend that universities warn could have significant financial implications.
Data released by UCAS, the university admissions service, reveals a 2.3% decrease in overseas undergraduate acceptances, with 69,905 students gaining a place in 2024 compared to 2023.
This decline comes after a series of restrictions introduced by the former Conservative government, including a ban on most international students bringing dependents, apart from those in postgraduate research courses or on government-funded scholarships.
A shift in regional dynamics
While the overall number of international students has fallen, the data highlights varying trends across different regions.
The number of accepted applicants from China, historically a significant source of international students for the UK, dropped by 1.9%.
In 2024, 17,070 Chinese students were accepted onto UK degree courses, compared to 17,405 in 2023.
A separate report published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) underscores concerns about perceptions among Chinese students.
Some feel British universities view them primarily as “a revenue stream.”
Hepi warned that it would be “a mistake” for institutions to be complacent about recruitment from China, emphasizing the need to foster stronger ties with students from the region.
Conversely, applications from Kuwait and the UAE have seen notable increases. Accepted applicants from Kuwait rose by 50% to 700, while those from the UAE grew by 95 students, reaching 1,875.
Financial pressures on universities
The downturn in international enrolments has raised alarms within the higher education sector.
Universities in England rely heavily on fees from international students, which are not capped, unlike the £9,250 limit for domestic undergraduate students (rising to £9,535 for the 2025–2026 academic year). These higher fees often subsidize teaching and research for all students, a critical component of university finances.
A Universities UK (UUK) representative highlighted the impact, stating:
“International students provide huge benefits to our universities, and the cross-subsidisation of teaching and research from their fees supports high-quality education for all students.
“The downturn in international undergraduate accepted applicants via Ucas points to a challenging environment for international student recruitment and university finances.”
Broader context of declining applications
The drop in international undergraduate enrolments aligns with a broader trend of declining overseas student interest.
Home Office data from October revealed a 16% decrease in visa applications from international students between July and September 2024.
UUK has also noted that the most significant reductions have been among postgraduate students, further straining universities' financial outlook.
Domestic numbers rise amid growing 18-year-old population
In contrast, domestic student enrolments have reached record levels. Ucas figures show 279,550 UK school and college leavers accepted places in 2024, a 2.9% rise from 271,735 in 2023.
This increase reflects the growing population of 18-year-olds in the UK. However, experts have tempered enthusiasm for this growth.
“It is good to see the numbers for UK students are more positive than many people feared they would be,” said Nick Hillman, director of Hepi.
“But the number of 18-year-olds has been rising fast, so the small increase in accepted applicants from the UK – which comes after two years of soft demand – is nothing to write home about.”
Future challenges and opportunities
UUK has welcomed support for international students from the new government but stressed the need for additional efforts to ensure the UK remains competitive.
The UUK representative added, “We must go further to ensure the UK remains globally competitive and an attractive destination for international students.”
Hepi’s Hillman echoed these sentiments, pointing to policies in other countries, including the US, as potential threats to the UK’s position.
“The UK’s whole approach needs to be looked at again if we are to compete with places like the US, given [president-elect] Donald Trump has promised green cards to international students in the US.”
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