According to UniQuest, the UK’s International student acceptance in January 2025 is 31% higher than the same time in 2024. This growth is largely driven by postgraduate courses in business and management, which saw a 17% year-on-year increase.

Growth in Key Postgraduate Programs

Jennifer Parsons, UniQuest's Chief Market and Partnerships Officer, attributed this performance to the huge demand for business and management programs, which dominate January intakes. Postgraduate computing courses, especially in AI and data science, were not far behind.

Parsons highlighted that the 2024 market faced challenges due to socio-economic issues, such as the collapse of the Nigerian Naira and policy changes in countries like India and Nigeria. However, 2025 has seen renewed interest from key regions, including South Asia.

Policy Shifts Impacting International Student Trends

Growth in UK international student acceptances follows a challenging 2024, in which visa restrictions limited international students' ability to bring dependants with them. A survey of UK business school deans showed major declines in applications from non-EU countries at that time.

In contrast, firmer visa policies in other major English-speaking destinations, such as Canada and Australia, have made the UK a more attractive destination. Canada has reduced its cap on international study permits by 10% for 2025 and 2026, while Australia has increased the visa application fees and introduced stricter regulations.

“The UK looks like a more welcoming environment,” said Parsons, citing both policy changes in competitor markets and faster offer processing times by UK institutions.

Positive Outlook for UK Higher Education

UniQuest described the increase in acceptances as a "strong start for higher education" in 2025, reflecting a reawakening of interest in studying in the UK. The Labour government's decision to retain the two-year Graduate Route visa in July 2024, allowing international students to work in the UK post-study, has given the sector further reason to cheer.

This is due to the fact that the UK has successfully been able to adapt to changing global conditions and improve its processes for recruiting students.