Net migration figures show 24.7% fall year-on-year for students

Overall net migration figures stand at 685,000. Photo: Pexels

The net migration figures for non-EU migrants on study-related visas have decreased by 24.7%, new ONS figures show.

• Net migration figures for study-related visas – both student and dependant visas – was an estimated 247,000 in the year ending December 2023
• This is a fall of 24.7% from the estimate of 328,000 in YE December 2022
• Total net migration across all visas was a provisional figure of 685,000 in YE December 2023, down 10.3% from the figure at the same time the previous year of 764,000.

Immigration from outside the EU for work also replaced study as the main reason for long-term migration in the YE December 2023, confirmed the Office of National Statistics.

“Although lower than our updated estimate of 764,000 for year ending December 2022, it’s too early to say if this is the start of a new downward trend,” it added.

An estimated 379,000 non-EU nationals came to the UK on study visas – both students and dependants –  in the year ending December 2023, down from 419,000 in December 2022.

The ONS called the figures “similar”, and also made note of the fact that the figures would not be affected by government announcements from the last six months.

“This bulletin covers a period before the implementation of changes to government policy on legal migration rules for family-, study- and work- related visas, which came into effect at varying dates from January 2024,” the ONS said.

Monthly migration statistics announced on May 22 by the Home Office showed that 79% fewer student dependant applications were lodged in the first four months of 2024, and more than “30,000 fewer student visa applications were made between January and April 2024” compared with the same period in 2023.

In the ONS data, main applicants – that is, students – made up almost three quarters (277,000) of study-related visas, while dependants on study-dependant visas stood at 27% in the YE December 2023.

Some 133,000 on study-related visas, be it student or dependant, left the country, a 15.7% increase on those leaving in YE December 2022. This, coupled with the immigration figure of 379,000, make the net migration figure for those on study-related visas – 247,000.

“Our latest long-term international migration estimates show a recent increase in emigration,” the ONS said in its overview on study-related visas.

“If past patterns continue, we expect to see larger numbers of students who immigrated since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continue to leave as they complete their studies.

“However, new government policies introduced in recent years and further announcements of changes to net migration measures could impact the future migration patterns of international students,” it continued.

Elaborating on the fact that work overtook study as the main reason for immigration in 2023, those migrating on work related visas made up 47% of the total net migration – the figures were an increase of 20% on YE December 2022.

“If past patterns continue, we expect to see larger numbers of students who immigrated since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continue to leave”

The ONS

While nationalities on study-related visas were not detailed for YE December 2023, it did reference the analysis of the Graduate Route done by the Migration Advisory Committee, which said Indian nationals account for 42% of all graduate visas issued.

The net migration figures come after the review by MAC delivered on May 14, which recommended keeping the Graduate Route in its current form.

The sector has been waiting for the government’s response to the rapid review, which some thought would still see PM Rishi Sunak “bring down the hammer” on the route, with others more optimistic and saying he would “have to listen” to the Committee’s recommendations.

Nothing has been said by the government specifically in response to the review at the time of writing.

The Home Secretary in his announcement of migration statistics on May 22 said that the Home Office will “continue to keep these measures under close review and if needed, we will not hesitate to go further”.

On May 22, Sunak made a shock announcement that a snap general election would be taking place on July 4, prompting questions of when a response to the MAC review may actually appear.

The data does not apply to EU nationals, as the ONS said at this stage “in our research, we can only apply our methods to non-EU nationals”.

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