United Kingdom(UK) universities are warning of course closures, job cuts and potential institutional collapse as a sharp fall in international student numbers exposes deep cracks in the sector’s finances.
New Home Office data shows applications for student visas dropped by 11% in the current academic year. Some institutions now fear overseas enrolment could fall by as much as 30%, blowing a hole in budgets that rely heavily on higher international tuition fees.
The downturn comes even as a record 194,800 British students secured places at their first-choice universities this year. But university leaders say domestic fees cannot fill the gap.
UK universities are capped at charging £9,250 a year for home students. With inflation eroding that income, revenue from overseas students — who pay significantly more — has become critical to keeping many institutions afloat.
The policy shift is having a particular impact on students from Bangladesh and other South Asian countries.
Under new rules, most postgraduate students can no longer bring dependants to the UK. Visa refusal rates have also climbed.
Data shows the refusal rate for Bangladeshi student visa applications topped 20% between 2024 and 2026. The number of Bangladeshi students coming to the UK, previously more than 15,000 a year, has reportedly fallen by up to 40% since the rules were tightened.
Proposed changes are adding to the pressure. The government is considering a £925 levy per international student and plans to cut the Graduate Route post-study work visa from 24 months to 18 months.
For Bangladeshi students, who make up a large share of UK postgraduate applicants, restrictions on dependants, high fees and tougher visa requirements are now key factors in deciding where to study.
The financial strain is already forcing action such as course cuts and mergers redeem the emerging precarious situation.
The Office for Students has warned that without urgent intervention, at least 25 universities in England face serious financial difficulty or disruption.
The University of Exeter has announced it will close its geography degree at its Cornwall campus. Cardiff University and the University of Edinburgh have also begun restructuring courses, departments and staffing.
The universities of Greenwich and Kent are planning a merger that could create what has been described as the UK’s first “super-university.”
Professor Kshitij Kapoor, vice-chancellor of King’s College London, said the loss of every five international students could put one university job at risk.
*Sector Calls for Policy Rethink*
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, and Libby Hackett, chief executive of the Russell Group, have urged the government to drop the proposed levy and ease visa restrictions.
They argue current policies have become excessively restrictive and warn the impact will extend beyond campuses to the wider UK economy if changes are not made quickly.
– TheVoice
