Overseas Students

Home Office written question – answered at on 7 August 2024.

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Photo of Baroness Lawlor Baroness Lawlor Conservative

To ask His Majesty's Government how many migrants who have arrived in the UK in the past three years for which figures are available are (1) overseas students who are taking (a) undergraduate degrees, (b) post-graduate degrees, and (c) other courses, and (2) the families or dependents of overseas students; what proportion of legal migrants each of those categories represents; and what arrangements are in place for monitoring their departure.

Photo of Lord Hanson of Flint Lord Hanson of Flint The Minister of State, Home Department

Table: Sponsored study visas by visa routes, applicant type, and course level

Year ending March 2022

Year ending March 2023

Year ending March 2024

Total (last 3 years)

Student visas (of which):

451,467

611,685

544,231

1,607,383

Main applicants (of which):

379,542

463,365

432,750

1,275,657

Bachelors level

100,996

107,819

106,545

315,360

Below bachelors level

19,102

22,711

22,193

64,006

Doctoral level

10,434

10,085

10,347

30,866

Masters level

233,857

313,670

283,595

831,122

Other and unknown2

15,153

9,080

10,070

34,303

Dependants

71,925

148,320

111,481

331,726

Child student visas

13,248

13,158

14,174

40,580

Total - sponsored study visas

464,715

624,843

558,405

1,647,963

There were 3,646,179 visas granted on routes that typically enable migrants to come to the UK ‘long-term’1 between Q2 2021 and Q1 2024, with sponsored study (both for main applicants and dependants) representing 45% of these.

Footnotes:

  1. To distinguish ‘migrants’ from people coming to the UK short-term, the data excludes visitor, transit, short-term study, and temporary worker visas (except Youth Mobility Scheme). The figure includes visas that typically enable a migrant to come to the UK for a year or more. However, some may be for less than a year. Not everyone issued a visa will arrive or stay in the UK for the entire period allowed by their visa. This total will also exclude those who do not require a visa to come to the UK (for example those with Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme).
  2. ‘Other and unknown’ refers to pre-sessional English language courses and visas with courses unable to be identified.

Departures from the UK are recorded for most journeys. However, there are instances in which a departure may not be recorded, for example those who travel via the Common Travel Area. Those who do remain in the UK after their permission has expired will be considered as overstayers and will be liable for detention and enforced removal.

Does this answer the above question?

Yes3 people think so

No2 people think not

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