Contemporary enrolment knowledge signifies an additional fall in abroad college students beginning postgraduate programs in September 2025, marking one other yr of decline.
Of 69 universities responding to a survey from the British Universities Worldwide Liaison Affiliation (BUILA) in November 2025, 61% reported a lower in postgraduate enrolments in worldwide college students in September 2025-26 in contrast with the earlier yr.
Throughout all examine ranges, total enrolments from abroad college students are down 6%, in keeping with the newest launch from BUILA.
Regardless of the drop, knowledge exhibits that many establishments are seeing progress in postgraduate enrolments from the EU and the US, with common rises of 13% and 19% respectively.
However the greatest total enrolment drops got here from China, the place 80% of universities reported common declines of 17%. For India, 63% of establishments reported common drops of 9%.
The decline will not be as steep as earlier years, the place in November 2024, 80% of universities reported decrease worldwide postgraduate enrolments, with a 20% lower total, in keeping with HESA knowledge.
Worldwide college students play a key position in UK postgraduate schooling, in 2023-24 making up 71% of full-time postgraduate enrolments and contributing considerably to universities’ educating and analysis capability.
The continued decline in worldwide postgraduate enrolments this yr is basically pushed by elevated competitors from different world schooling locations
Andrew Fowl, BUILA
“The continued decline in worldwide postgraduate enrolments this yr is basically pushed by elevated competitors from different world schooling locations,” defined Andrew Fowl, chair of BUILA.
“With world competitors intensifying, the federal government should act to guard the UK’s status as a world-leading examine vacation spot whereas balancing its immigration agenda.”
The entire variety of examine visas issued to worldwide college students fell by 19% between 2022 and 2024, as reported by The Migration Observatory on the College of Oxford.
The decline in examine visas comes as universities put together for the introduction of the worldwide pupil levy, which is able to see English universities will charged a flat price of £925 per worldwide pupil per yr from August 2028.
Below the levy, every establishment will obtain an allowance masking solely their first 220 college students annually.
The continued drop in worldwide pupil numbers is more likely to put further monetary stress on universities, which rely closely on charges from these college students to assist their budgets.
“With measures just like the worldwide pupil levy and tighter recruitment guidelines nonetheless to return, we urge the federal government to ship a much-needed interval of stability for the sector,” Fowl added.
“The price range confirmed that the levy shall be launched from 2028, so whereas 2026 enrolments are unlikely to be impacted, universities shall be contemplating how one can navigate the impression of this in a difficult monetary setting.”
