The number of international applications for UK study visas has increased for the first time since October 2023, according to new UK Home Office data. 

There was a significant rise in UK student visa applications in January 2025, with 28,700 students submitting applications for sponsored study visas—marking a 13% increase compared to January 2024.

This trend continues signs of positive shifts for UK international students and foreign nationals interested in studying in the UK, particularly those pursuing postgraduate courses such as MBAs and business masters degrees. 

Earlier this year, UniQuest, a UK-based firm specializing in student recruitment, analyzed over 40,000 international student applications and found a 31% increase in the number of accepted applicants for January 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. A substantial portion of these acceptances were for business and management postgraduate courses.

The recent surge in application numbers and acceptances comes despite the challenges international students in the UK have faced over the past 18 months, beginning with the dependents ban that took effect on January 1st, 2024 and which prohibited foreign nationals from bringing their families with them when studying in the UK. 

The ruling triggered a decline in UK study visa applications in 2024. While the number of dependent visa applications has since dropped sharply—falling to 2,300 from 17,500 in January 2023—the latest data shows resilience in the student market, with applicant numbers rising. 

Meanwhile, UK universities continue to deal with financial strain due to the decline in tuition revenue following the dependents ban. The Office for Students (OfS) projects that 72% of UK universities will operate at a financial deficit in the 2025/26 academic year, a significant increase from 40% in 2023/24.