In 2025, Nigeria has fallen to fourth in the UK’s international student market, behind India, China, and Pakistan. The decline, influenced by the dependants’ ban and shifting choices for study destinations, positions the UK at a crossroads. Visa issuances decreased significantly in 2024, impacting many UK universities reliant on foreign enrolments for financial stability.
In 2025, Nigeria has fallen to fourth place in the UK’s sponsored study visa market for international students, trailing behind India, China, and Pakistan. This information was released in a report by the UK Home Office, which noted, “The largest drops were from India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. China declined, but not nearly as much as other top markets, and it has returned to its position as the top source country for UK educators.”
The report indicates that increasing alternatives in Asia and the Middle East may be attracting students away from the UK, with the recently implemented dependants’ ban identified as a major deterrent impacting demand. Recent data show that visa applications for international students spiked towards the end of 2024 and into early 2025, during which many UK universities are experiencing financial difficulties due to a decrease in foreign enrolments.
According to the International College of Economics and Finance (ICEF), sponsored study visa issuances for international students fell by 14 percent in 2024 compared to 2023. Specifically, a total of 393,125 visas were granted in 2024, representing a decline that closely mirrors last year’s forecasted 15 percent drop, which highlighted that, “The largest losses would be from non-European countries, including Nigeria and India.”
The leading five markets for UK study visas include China with 102,940, India with 88,860, Pakistan with 35,045, Nigeria with 18,900, and the United States with 15,275 applicants. As a result of a drastic 55 percent decrease in Nigerian applicants and a 13 percent increase from Pakistan, Pakistan has moved up to the third position, relegating Nigeria to fourth.
The dependants’ ban, enacted in January 2024, has markedly affected student demand from key markets like Nigeria, India, and Bangladesh. Prior to this ban, international students from taught master’s programs could bring family members with them, contributing to the popularity of these programs. Since the ban, the share of study visas for master’s courses dropped from 66 percent in 2023 to 61 percent in 2024.
Additionally, visas granted to students from Nigeria and India plummeted by 55 percent and 26 percent, respectively, while issuances for Chinese students saw only a minor decline of 6 percent. This has enabled China to reaffirm its status as the primary source country for international students in the UK, a position it had lost to India during the previous two years. Now, India ranks second in terms of visa issuances, with 88,860 compared to China’s 102,940 in 2024.
The latest data reveals a concerning trend for Nigeria, which has slipped to fourth in the UK international student market. This decline, primarily attributed to the dependants’ ban and increasing competition from alternative study destinations, signals a need for strategic approaches to bolster student enrolments. As the UK navigates these challenges, understanding the dynamics at play will be crucial for universities and policymakers.
Original Source: businessday.ng
