Despite recent cutbacks to post-study work benefits, the UK has witnessed a sharp increase in international student visa applications. Between January and May 2025, 76,400 international students applied for UK study visas—a 29% rise compared to the same period in 2024, according to newly released data from the Home Office.
In May alone, 18,500 applications were submitted, marking a 19% year-on-year increase. This is the first official update since the government reduced the Graduate Route post-study work period from two years to 18 months. The figures suggest that the policy change has not significantly deterred prospective students so far.
Ruth Arnold, director of external affairs at Study Group, remarked that the rise in applications indicates that concerns over the UK’s immigration White Paper may have been mitigated—largely due to the preservation of the post-study work pathway. She also noted that increasingly restrictive visa policies in countries like Australia, Canada, and the US may be positioning the UK as a comparatively “safer, more stable option.”
However, Arnold cautioned that the UK should not become complacent. “Many students are applying to multiple destinations,” she said, highlighting the need for continued competitiveness.
One segment that has experienced a marked decline is dependent visa applications. Following tighter restrictions introduced in January 2024, numbers have fallen sharply. Only 1,100 dependent visa applications were recorded in May 2025, down from 1,400 in May 2024 and a steep drop from 7,800 in May 2023. Year-to-date, there have been 6,300 dependent applications, compared to 46,700 during the same period last year.
Despite the short-term spike in new applications, the broader 12-month trend shows a 9% decline in total study visa applications from main applicants. Louise Tweedie, a partner and higher education specialist at RSM UK, warned that universities are still under significant financial strain. “Several institutions announced programme and departmental cuts in May due to ongoing budget pressures,” she said.
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