International undergraduate and master’s students who apply to study in the UK after 1 January 2027 will no longer be eligible for a two-year post-study visa and will instead be limited to an 18-month visa. International recruitment giant IDP told Times Higher Education that the UK “now has the lowest proportion of students planning to apply within six months compared to other major destinations”. ADVERTISEMENTPrior to this, in 2024-25, the total number of overseas students at UK universities fell 6 per cent to 685,565. The home secretary also announced a study visa ban for students from four countries – a move that has been reported in the press globally. However, Ovens was more confident about international demand, saying the organisation had seen “greater student interest for the UK”.

Source: The Times March 09, 2026 18:07 UTC