Glimmer of hope for UK recruitment as applications rise

New Home Office data released on February 13 showed that a total of 28,700 sponsored study visa applications were made in January 2025 – 12.5% more than in January 2024, when 25,500 applications were made.

Meanwhile, dependant visa applications decreased by 32.4%, with 2,300 submitted in January 2025 – down from 3,400 in January 2024.

This follows the rule changes that came into effect in January 2024 which prevent students from bringing dependants, apart from those studying postgraduate research courses or courses with government-funded scholarships.

Despite the positive signals from main applicants, Home Office data shows a broader downward trend over the past year, with applications from main applicants in the year ending January 2025 (411,100) falling 13% when compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, there were 21,500 applications from dependants of students in the year ending January 2025, 84% fewer than the year ending January 2024.

On the same day as the Home Office data was published, UCAS released its undergraduate January Equal Consideration applicant data for 2025, which showed the total number of international applicants to UCAS increased by 2.7% compared to last year’s figures, with the largest increases in applicants from China, Ireland and the US.

It’s particularly welcome news to see that global confidence in the UK’s higher education sector remains strong
_{^{Jo Saxton, UCAS}}

The figures come from the UCAS Equal Consideration Deadline day on January 20, which normally accounts for approximately 80% of applicants in any given cycle.

“It’s particularly welcome news to see that global confidence in the UK’s higher education sector remains strong, with an increase in international undergraduate applicants via UCAS to UK universities and colleges in 2025,” said Jo Saxton, chief executive, UCAS.

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