Data from a major postgraduate recruitment specialist has recorded a decline in interest in UK opportunities among prospective international students.

A small number of UK universities are offering an early winter intake that will enable international students to avoid the impact of visa changes that will prevent dependants from joining them from January 2024.

Some international students are rushing to secure a place at UK universities this summer before the country’s ban on bringing family members kicks in while others are looking for alternative study destinations altogether, according to agents. 

The fuel subsidy which was ended by Nigeria’s incoming president will play a small part in a surge of international student migration, but its full effects are “unlikely to be felt” for at least a year.

While the UK's decision to ban some students from bringing dependants with them was met with disappointment, is the mood in universities different?

The UK has "recommitted" to the aims of its international education strategy days after announcing a ban on PGT students bringing dependants to the country.

University leaders were warned about the potential impact on the UK economy of government changes to dependent visas during a recent QS event in London.

Non-EU international students have driven a rise in emigration out of the UK while the number of students bringing dependants doubled in 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics.