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The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and Kaplan International Pathways, based on an analysis by London Economics, estimated that international students who enrolled at British universities in the 2024/25 academic year (approximately 404 500 people) will contribute a total of nearly £40.4 billion to the national economy during their studies. Government spending on their education, meanwhile, is only £4.7 billion.
This is not just the tuition alone: more than 287 000 jobs are provided to support the education of international students. On average, every region of the country gains a benefit of approximately 580£ per resident.
Notably, this is the first study to account for the benefit not only to the largest and most well-known universities, but also to individual regions and to the economies of different areas of the country.
Fewer international students — the economy loses billions
The United Kingdom has been consistently tightening its visa and immigration policies in recent years, which is having a direct impact on the education sector. The consequences are already being felt very clearly. Compared to the 2022/23 academic year, the number of first-year students from abroad has fallen by 12% (approximately 54 500 people), and as a result the UK economy has missed out on £2.9 billion.
A significant reason for shifting educational direction was the government's decision to restrict the arrival of international students' families. «Adding fuel to the fire» were the introduction of additional student fees, a general rise in prices (caused in part by the introduction of VAT on educational services), the tightening of immigration legislation, including a requirement for closer oversight from the universities themselves.
Even the magnificent reputation of British alma maters, accumulated over centuries, does not always save the day. The long-established «Big Four» (the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia) is increasingly losing ground, ceding it to, for example, Asian universities and educational centers in the Middle East and India.
Experts are virtually unanimous in stating that the findings of this study, as well as the views of the education sector, must be taken into account when it comes to national immigration policy. The ongoing impact is already being felt by the economy and the financial stability of universities, colleges, schools, and language centers, which are already having a hard time. If the number of international students continues to decline, this will in effect be a blow to one of the country's export priorities. To what extent is the United Kingdom prepared to restrict international mobility, given the significant economic contribution of international students?
