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Demand for studying in the United Kingdom from international students is noticeably changing — and not for the better for universities. A new study by the British Universities International Liaison Association showed that enrollment in programs in January 2026 declined by an average of 31% compared to the previous year.
A particularly sharp decline has been recorded from South Asia: according to the survey, 70% of British universities reported a decrease in the number of international postgraduate students. The most significant drops were in applications from Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh: approximately 82% of universities noted a fall in applications from Pakistan (an average of minus 75%), 76% from India, and 65% from Bangladesh. Due to the alarming statistics, half of universities expect that under the new compliance system they may receive a rating below green, which directly affects their growth potential.
One of the main reasons for the decline is the tightening of immigration control rules. As early as this summer, the United Kingdom will introduce a new university assessment system under the Basic Compliance Assessment framework: it will evaluate universities based on visa refusal rates, compliance with enrolment rules, and course completion rates.
- If a university receives green status — it will operate without restrictions.
- Amber means a ban on expanding student enrolment.
- Red may lead to inspections, a reduction in CAS issuance, and restrictions on the right to sponsor international students.
In light of the new requirements, universities have already begun restructuring their admissions process. About a third of universities have restricted enrolment in certain countries to reduce risks, more than half have strengthened candidate screening and raised interview requirements, and some universities have introduced higher deposits or tightened financial checks.
But even with such measures, the problems have not gone away. 60% of universities reported an increase in visa refusals by UK Visas and Immigration, nearly half of survey participants noted delays and difficulties with interviews, as well as cases where the reasons for refusals seem inconsistent with the calibre of applicants. Experts warn that in an environment of growing competition between countries, some genuinely strong students may simply choose not to apply to the United Kingdom if the application process appears too complicated or risky.
