23% rise UK research visas granted in 12 months to June 2023

Virtually 154,000 of all sponsored research associated visas had been granted to college students’ dependants, the statistics from the Dwelling Workplace, launched in the present day, additionally present.

From January 2024, masters college students on taught programs within the UK will not be permitted to deliver dependants with them.

Undergraduates had not beforehand been allowed to deliver members of the family with them. College students on postgraduate analysis programs will proceed to be permitted to deliver dependants after 2024.

The 498,626 sponsored research visas granted to college students within the 12 months ending June 2023 is a 108% improve on the pre-Covid figures, within the 12 months ending June 2019.

Sector stakeholders will probably be anticipating what the figures in Q3 of 2023 present when they’re launched later this 12 months on November 23. Q3 is historically when most potential college students apply for visas wanted to enrol in universities within the UK.

Non-EEA college students are behind the rise in research visas granted, rising by 24% up to now 12 months. EU college students “remained steady” in response to the Dwelling Workplace evaluation, falling barely by 1%.

A complete of 142,848 sponsored research visas had been granted to Indians, an improve of 49,883 (+54%) in comparison with the 12 months ending June 2022. The Dwelling Workplace famous that grants to Indians is now round seven instances increased than the 12 months ending June 2019.

Visas for Chinese language college students have dropped by 6% from June 2022, with 107,670 visas granted within the 12 months to June 2023. Collectively, Chinese language and Indian nationals accounted for half of all sponsored research visas.

Nigeria, Pakistan and the US made up the highest 5 nationalities granted sponsored research visas. Visa grants to Nigerians is up 73% up to now 12 months to June, reaching a complete of 58,680.

Among the many sponsored visa grants to college students from the EEA, Germany accounted for 18%, with 4,373 granted, adopted by France with 4,286 (additionally 18%) and Spain with 3,380 (14%).

The statistics additionally reveal {that a} whole of 98,394 Graduate route extensions had been granted within the 12 months to June, with Indians accounting for over two-fifths (42%). Earlier evaluation confirmed that 20% of scholars whose go away expired in 2022 switched to the Graduate route following their research.