Early signs point to a second consecutive year of dropping overseas International Student Enrolments in the 2025–2026 academic cycle for the UK, which raises new questions about the viability of one of the nation's most significant exports of education. Official statistics and recent survey data indicate that postgraduate recruitment is still sluggish, especially from important countries like China and India.
61% of universities surveyed by the British Universities International Liaison Association (BUILA) in November 2025 reported a decline in international postgraduate commencements for the academic year starting in September 2025. Overall, international postgraduate enrollments at the 69 institutions examined decreased by an average of 6% from the year before.
The decline seems less severe than the previous year, but it is still concerning. According to BUILA's autumn 2024 survey, there was a 20% overall decline in the number of international postgraduate students at 80% of participating universities. According to the comparison, the industry has not yet experienced a significant comeback, even though the rate of decrease may be moderating.
Given the disproportionate number of International Student Enrolments in postgraduate programs throughout the United Kingdom, these losses are particularly noteworthy. In 2023–2024, 71% of full-time postgraduate students were international, according to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). On the other hand, they accounted for 16% of full-time undergraduate enrollment and 25% of all enrollment in higher education.
The declining trend is already evident in headline enrollment numbers,
according to HESA data. In 2023–2024, total overseas enrollments fell 3.5% year
over year, the first annual reduction in over ten years.
"As recent policy changes take effect, universities across the board continue to operate in a very uncertain environment, seeing a decline in the number of international students," Bird stated. He continued by saying that although organizations are deliberately broadening their hiring pools to encourage globalization, the UK runs the risk of falling behind rival locations unless more stability is implemented.
Bird also urged the government to give clarity and consistency, citing worries
over a proposed international student tax and stricter compliance requirements.
In order to protect the UK's standing as a top international study destination
while balancing immigration goals, he advocated for "a much-needed period
of stability for the sector."
When taken as a whole, the poll results and official data show that the UK
higher education system is facing constant pressure from altered student
movement patterns, policy uncertainty, and international competition. Sector
officials caution that recovery will mostly rely on government action, even
though certain evidence indicates the worst drops may be abating.
In the face of tightened immigration regulations and increased competition from
countries like Australia, Canada, and the US, universities will have the
challenge of regaining the trust of potential international students as they
get ready for the 2026 recruitment cycle. It's unclear if the UK can stop the
declining trend, but institutions and the economy as a whole have a lot on the
line.
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