Data aggregated by Destination for Education – a coalition representing six leading international education pathway providers (INTO, Kaplan, Cambridge Education Group, Navitas, Oxford International, and Study Group) – shows that from 2025 to 2026 over 5000 redundancies have been announced at over 20 institutions across the UK, affecting both teaching and professional services staff.
The redundancies come as the UK higher education sector grapples with falling international student numbers following tighter immigration policies, including a shortening of the Graduate Route and a ban on almost all student dependants.
“International students are central to the success of universities and local economies across the UK, yet recent policy changes are making the country less attractive in an increasingly competitive global market,” said Sarah Williamson, spokesperson for Destination for Education.
The financial strain facing universities is now having direct consequences for staff and students through redundancies, industrial action and disrupted learning
Sarah Williamson, Destination for Education
“The financial strain facing universities is now having direct consequences for staff and students through redundancies, industrial action and disrupted learning. At a time when young people already face significant uncertainty about their futures, it is vital that the UK supports one of its most successful export sectors rather than placing further pressure on it.”
International students are a major contributor to the UK economy, with education exports linked to their spending and tuition generating £29.3 billion in 2022, making the sector one of the UK’s largest export industries.
The UK’s recently refreshed international education strategy looks to grow education exports to £40bn per year by 2030, not through increasing international student numbers, but
Destination for Education argues that international students’ tuition fees and other contributions help fund research and teaching, support local economies and jobs across the UK, while their payments through the Immigration Health Surcharge provide additional funding that helps subsidise the NHS.
The coalition is therefore is urging the government to work more closely with the sector to restore the UK’s competitiveness as a destination for international study and prevent further damage to universities and regional economies.
Redundancies have become a persistent feature across the UK sector in recent years, with developments in the past week underscoring the scale of the issue.
The University of Sussex has opened a 45-day consultation on plans that could see more than 200 jobs cut as part of efforts to save £35 million annually, following two voluntary redundancy schemes that have already reduced staff numbers by 528 in the past year, according to the BBC. UNISON said the proposals would increase workloads further and are being driven by a reported fall in student numbers.
Elsewhere, staff at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) have launched 18 days of strike action in response to proposed job losses and wider restructuring plans, with the University and College Union (UCU) warning that more than 130 roles could go as part of efforts to save nearly £27m.
Separately, this week, the University of Aberdeen has revealed plans that could see more than 100 jobs lost as part of a £10m savings drive.
Earlier this month, England’s higher education watchdog revealed over a third of universities faced deficits last year, with the figure set to rise in 2025/26. The Office for Students’ (OfS) latest financial sustainability report found 36% of English institutions reported deficits last year – a slight improvement of the 43% figure predicted by in its last annual report.
Though better than expected, the results lay bare the “continued financial pressure” being felt across the sector, with OfS predicting more than four in 10 universities will face shortfalls next year.
