In 2025, Nigeria fell to fourth place in the UK’s international student market, trailing behind India, China, and Pakistan due to a significant decline in visa issuances. The introduction of a dependants’ ban has notably affected student demand from Nigeria and other non-European countries.
In 2025, Nigeria has experienced a significant decline in the issuance of UK study visas, now ranking fourth behind India, China, and Pakistan. According to the UK Home Office report, the most notable decreases were observed in the visa applications from India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, while China has rebounded, regaining its status as the leading source of international students in the UK.
The UK has witnessed an increase in international students’ visa applications, with many institutions grappling with declining foreign enrolment numbers due to a 14% decrease in visa grants in 2024 compared to 2023. Specifically, a total of 393,125 sponsored study visas were issued in 2024, aligning closely with predictions made by the International College of Economics and Finance regarding a significant decline in non-European student applications, highlighting Nigeria’s and India’s dwindling numbers.
In the competitive landscape for UK education, the top ten source countries in 2024 were led by China (102,940), India (88,860), and Pakistan (35,045). Nigeria, with 18,900 applicants, fell to fourth place, indicating a decline exacerbated by recent policy changes, notably the dependants’ ban instituted in January 2024, which greatly affected student mobility from major international markets.
Under the current regulations, most international students are not permitted to bring family members while studying in the UK, a restriction that significantly affected enrolment from emerging markets. Previously, taught master’s programs were especially popular due to the ability for students to bring dependants, leading to a downturn in interest since the implementation of the ban. Consequently, the share of study visas for master’s programs dropped from 66% in 2023 to 61% in 2024.
In terms of visa applications, there was a stark 84% reduction in dependant applications by January 2025, with notable decreases among Nigerian and Indian students (55% and 26%, respectively). Conversely, China experienced a more modest decline of 6%, allowing it to reclaim the top position for international student sources in the UK, displacing India to second place.
In summary, Nigeria’s position in the UK international student market has deteriorated, now ranking fourth due to significant reductions in sponsored study visa issuances. The effects of the dependants’ ban and the rise of competing educational destinations are crucial factors contributing to this decline. As a result, Nigeria faces challenges in sustaining its previous levels of student mobility to the UK as emerging trends shape the international education landscape.
Original Source: businessday.ng
