The United Kingdom has announced a 76% reduction in the number of visas it issues.
As a result of the implementation of the policy that prohibits the issuance of dependent visas, there has been a significant decrease in the number of study visas that the United Kingdom has issued to Nigerians and other international students for the January 2024 intake. This has raised concerns about how British universities will deal with the decline in admissions and revenues from international students.
For the January 2024 enrollment
the most recent data from Enroly Data Insights, which represents a cross-section of universities in the United Kingdom and is based on 58,000 students, revealed a significant decline in important indicators such as deposit payments and confirmation of acceptance for studies, amongst other metrics.
Low deposit payments
Deposit payments, a crucial indicator, have dropped by 52% in advance of the January 2024 enrollment period, Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) issuance has dropped by 64%, and visa issuance has witnessed an even more dramatic reduction by 71%. This is in contrast to the data that were reported in January 2023.
According to the report, the shocking results are the result of a collapse in the Nigerian market, which has seen a decrease of 74% in deposits and a decrease of 76% in the issue of CAS and visas. According to the data, there was also a considerable decrease in the number of students coming from India, with deposits falling by 52% and the number of CAS and visas given falling by 66%.
According to the survey, the abrupt devaluation of the Naira, which is a factor that significantly restricts student mobility and access to foreign exchange, could possibly be linked to the drop in the number of Nigerians enrolling in universities in the United Kingdom.
From May 2023 onwards, it became illegal for international students enrolled in taught master's degree programmes in the United Kingdom to bring family members with them as dependents. The new regulations will only allow students who are enrolled in postgraduate courses that are currently categorised as research programmes, which includes students who are pursuing a doctoral degree, to bring dependents with them.
Beginning in January 2024, this policy was implemented by the United Kingdom's Home Office, which was led by Suella Braverman, who was recently removed from her position as Interior Secretary.
According to data that was made public earlier this year, the number of dependent visas that were issued to Nigerians had dramatically grown from the previous year. This indicates that there are now more Nigerian family members of students in the United Kingdom than there are students actually studying there.
Number of visa applicants
The number of main applicant visas that were awarded to Nigerian students in 2022 was eight times more than the number that was granted in 2021. On the other hand, the number of visas that were granted to dependents increased by 38 times during the same time period.
Enroly provides another explanation, stating, "The declines are partially caused by a collapse in the Nigerian market, where deposits and CAS/visa issued are down by 74% and 76% respectively." With deposits falling by 52% and the number of CAS and visas given falling by 66%, there are indications that there may also be significant drops in the number of students coming from India, which is the largest market for the United Kingdom.
According to a study by The Star, an increasing number of Nigerian students are choosing to attend institutions in Canada, Germany, and Australia since these countries are seen to be more welcoming to migrants and can satisfy their dependents' needs.
A significant number of students from India and Nigeria are enrolled in the one-year master's programme at universities in the United Kingdom, making them the second and third largest student populations in the country. 73% of Indian students who were enrolled in education in the United Kingdom during the academic year 2021/22 were enrolled in master's degree programmes that lasted for one year.
The majority of international students enrolled in postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom come from countries that are not members of the European Union. There are also more than twice as many students from outside the EU enrolled in undergraduate programmes as there are from inside the EU.
