New levy set to derail international student numbers further as November numbers remain steady
The government has published its monthly visa data which shows that Sponsored study visa applications were up by 7% for the year ending November 2025, compared to November 2024. However, applications remain 12% lower than the year ending November 2023.
Lisa Randall, Partner and National Head of Higher Education at RSM UK, comments: “As expected visa applications remained steady in November, ahead of an anticipated uptick in the new year as January enrolments land. This will continue the recent upward trajectory but will get nowhere near the levels seen prior to the visa restrictions on dependents, which continues to cause a financial shortfall for many universities.
“A key announcement in the budget could derail future international student numbers as a new annual levy of £925 per overseas student will be introduced in the academic year 2028-29. The revenue raised will be put back into higher education provision and skills, supporting maintenance grants for disadvantaged students studying in priority courses. This will help to support domestic enrolments but another barrier to attracting international students could impact the UK’s influence globally, putting it at a competitive disadvantage.
"With growing institutional deficits, another levy on a key income stream adds to mounting financial pressure for UK universities and makes modelling projected student numbers over the next three years, harder but essential, to understand so higher education institutions can forecast effectively.”