UUKi responds to record high number of annual Sponsored study visas granted
Last updated on Tuesday 14 Jun 2022 on 4:00pm
On 25 November 2021, the Home Office published the latest immigration statistics for the year ending September 2021.
The number of Sponsored study visas granted paint a positive picture for UK international student recruitment, with this being 'the highest annual number of Sponsored study visas granted on record with the substantial increase representing both a recovery from lower numbers during the Covid-19 pandemic but also increases on the pre-pandemic period.'
There were significant percentage increases across a number of the UK's key recruitment markets, including China, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Responding to the release, Vivienne Stern, Director, Universities UK International said:
It is simply fantastic to see such a strong percentage increase in the number of student visas granted over the past year. In the face of unprecedented challenges, UK universities have not only pulled through, but delivered a truly welcoming and high-quality experience for students around the world. Supported by flexible, understanding, and competitive policies from UK government, this has been an extraordinary period in the UK's international student recruitment. I hope we can take this collaborative spirit forward as we address existing challenges and opportunities in the recruitment space.
Further information on the statistics can be found on the UK government website.