Fresh enrolment data reveal a continued decline in overseas students beginning postgraduate courses in the United Kingdom in September 2025. A recent study shows that more than half of UK universities indicated a decrease in international postgraduate enrolments for the 2025-26 academic year compared to the previous year.
In a November 2025 survey conducted by the British Universities International Liaison Association (BUILA), 61% of the 69 responding universities indicated a decline in international postgraduate enrolments for the 2025-26 academic year compared to the previous year, reports The PIE News.
Despite a significant decline in postgraduate enrolments, overall enrolments from international students have decreased by 6% across all study levels.
Data showed that postgraduate enrollment from the US and the EU is increasing at several universities, with average increases of 19% and 13%, respectively.
UK Home Office data shows that in the year ending September 2025, there were 439,924 sponsored study visa grants, similar to the previous year but 31% fewer than the peak in the year ending September 2023. This included 419,558 main applicants – 7% more than in the year ending September 2024 – and 20,366 dependants – 57% fewer than the previous year.
Enrolment Drops
BUILA study shows the biggest overall enrolment drops came from China, where 80% of universities reported average declines of 17%. For India, 63% of institutions reported average drops of 9%.
According to HESA data, the reduction is not as sharp as in prior years, when 80% of universities reported reduced international postgraduate enrolments in November 2024, resulting in a 20% total decrease.
UK Postgraduate Education
International students play a key role in UK postgraduate education, in 2023-24 making up 71% of full-time postgraduate enrolments and contributing significantly to universities’ teaching and research capacity.
“The continued decline in international postgraduate enrolments this year is largely driven by increased competition from other global education destinations,” explained Andrew Bird, chair of BUILA.
The total number of study visas issued to international students fell by 19% between 2022 and 2024, as reported by The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.
The decline in study visas comes as universities prepare for the introduction of the international student levy, which will see English universities charging a flat fee of £925 per international student per year from August 2028. Under the levy, each institution will receive an allowance covering only its first 220 students each year.
The continued drop in international student numbers is likely to put additional financial pressure on universities, which rely heavily on fees from these students to support their budgets. “With measures like the international student levy and tighter recruitment rules still to come, we urge the government to deliver a much-needed period of stability for the sector.
The budget confirmed that the levy will be introduced from 2028, so while 2026 enrolments are unlikely to be impacted, universities will be considering how to navigate the impact of this in a challenging financial environment,” Bird added.
