Nigeria Falls to Fourth Place in UK International Student Visa Rankings for 2025

In 2025, Nigeria has dropped to the fourth position in the UK’s international student market due to a 55 percent decrease in visa issuances, impacted primarily by the dependants’ ban beginning in January 2024. This decline has allowed Pakistan to overtake Nigeria, while China remains the leading source of international students. The recent changes highlight the ongoing struggles of UK universities with declining foreign enrolments.

In 2025, Nigeria has fallen to the fourth position in international student visa issuances in the United Kingdom, trailing behind India, China, and Pakistan. The UK Home Office report indicates significant declines from countries such as India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. While China’s numbers decreased, its position as the leading source country for UK education has returned, highlighting a shift in international student dynamics.

Alternative educational destinations in Asia and the Middle East are attracting students away from the UK, yet the principal factor affecting demand appears to be the dependants’ ban enacted in January 2024. This regulation severely limits international students’ ability to bring family members, particularly affecting those from non-European countries like Nigeria and India.

According to a report by the International College of Economics and Finance (ICEF), there was a 14 percent decrease in student visa issuances for 2024, leading to a total of 393,125 sponsored study visas allotted to main applicants. This decline aligns closely with predictions made last year regarding the impact of the dependants’ ban.

Currently, the top five markets sending students to the UK are China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and the United States. Nigeria’s visa issuances dropped drastically by 55 percent, allowing Pakistan, which saw a 13 percent rise in applications, to take the third position. This stark contrast stresses the repercussions of the bans on the demand from crucial markets.

The dependants’ ban dramatically reduced the appeal of master’s programs, which previously allowed students to bring families, enhancing their attractiveness in emerging markets. Statistics reveal a decline in master’s program study visas from 66 percent in 2023 to 61 percent in 2024 among all issuances. The top countries for master’s visa grants are now India, China, and Pakistan, with significant reductions in dependants’ applications.

In summary, the trend shows that due to the implementational effects of the dependants’ ban, there has been notable decline in visa issuances for students from Nigeria and India, while the Chinese market has softened less drastically, allowing it to maintain its leading role in UK education.

The recent data concerning international student visa issuances reveals significant shifts in the UK educational landscape, with Nigeria dropping to fourth place behind Pakistan, India, and China. The dependants’ ban has played a crucial role in this development, limiting family inclusivity for students and adversely affecting the appeal of UK study programs, particularly among major international sources. Given these trends, UK universities face ongoing financial challenges amid declining foreign enrolments, necessitating a reevaluation of policies to attract international students more effectively.

Original Source: businessday.ng