A report by the Office for Students (OfS) reveals a significant drop in Indian student numbers applying to UK universities, adding to financial pressures on higher education institutions. The data shows a 20.4% decrease in Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) issued to Indian students, falling from 139,914 in 2022-23 to 111,329 in 2023-24.
Indian student groups cite limited job prospects, safety concerns following recent anti-immigration riots, and new government policies restricting dependents from accompanying international students as key reasons for the decline.
The OfS warns that universities heavily reliant on students from India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh are at risk, projecting a potential sector-wide deficit of £1.6 billion by 2025-26 without significant interventions.
Indian National Students’ Association (INSA) UK President Amit Tiwari highlighted the impact of restrictive policies and economic conditions. Sanam Arora, Chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, emphasized the need for universities to address misinformation, improve employability support, and enhance their appeal to Indian students.
Indian students, who recently overtook Chinese nationals as the largest group granted UK study visas, remain a vital demographic for UK universities, underscoring the urgency of reversing this trend.
Source: PTI
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