After a challenging year for international enrolments in 2024, UK universities are on track for a major rebound starting with the January 2025 intake. This promising outlook is backed by early data from key service providers, including student recruitment platform Enroly and enrolment solutions expert UniQuest.
Times Higher Education reports that international student deposits processed through Enroly for January 2025 have skyrocketed by 27% compared to the previous year, while acceptance letter issuances have climbed 14%. This surge is particularly encouraging given that student visa applications in the first nine months of 2024 were down 16% year-over-year.
Supporting this positive trend, UniQuest analyzed over 40,000 applications for January 2025 and found a dramatic 31% rise in firm acceptances. Notably, Indian student acceptances increased by 11%, and Pakistani acceptances experienced a staggering 91% jump.
UK Capitalizes as Canada and Australia Lose Ground
A Fall 2024 ApplyBoard survey of international student counsellors across 40 countries revealed the UK as the second most desirable study destination after the US, overtaking Australia and Canada. Both Canada and Australia have struggled with declining international enrolments due to government policies restricting student numbers.
Professor Max Lu, vice-chancellor of the University of Surrey, credited education secretary Bridget Phillipson’s proactive approach for revitalizing the sector. Phillipson’s early message, emphasizing the economic and cultural value of international students, resonated globally. Professor Lu remarked:
“Our agents in China, India, and Southeast Asia have responded enthusiastically. International postgraduate conversion rates are rising, reflecting the positive reception of Bridget Phillipson’s message that international students are integral to the UK’s success.”
Diverse Regional Growth Fuels Enrolment Boom
Enroly data shows that this resurgence is primarily driven by soaring interest from East Africa (+84%), West Africa (+27%), and South Asia (+31%). Kenya, Nigeria, and Nepal are among the top-performing markets. However, enrolments from the Middle East and East Asia have dropped by over 30%.
Policy shifts under the former Sunak government, notably the ban on dependants for international students in master’s-taught programmes, have likely contributed to these mixed results. Deposits for master’s-taught courses have slightly decreased, whereas postgraduate research programmes (which still allow dependants) saw a 15% increase, and undergraduate deposits rose by 7%.