ডেস্ক নিউজ 
UniQuest, Head of Product and Student Journey (source).
University of Aberdeen, Director of Strategy, Planning and Data Insights (source).
UK Student Visa Numbers Point to a Difficult 2026 Intake
The latest UK student visa figures suggest that the more moderate scenario for 2026 is taking shape, with applications across the key summer months down by about 18% from a year earlier. The Home Office recorded 99,500 sponsored study visa applications in August, while the year-ending August total was 16% lower than the previous year.
Attention now turns to the next Home Office releases, scheduled for 8 October and 26 November 2026, which will provide more evidence on the full-year trend.
For universities, September CAS figures offer another useful comparison. Enroly’s participating institutions recorded a decline of around 27%, but this should not be directly compared with the Home Office’s wider visa-application figures because the datasets measure different things.
Universities can get a clearer picture by comparing their own September 2026 CAS numbers with September 2025, then examining the changes by individual recruitment market.
The latest UK sponsor rules also make refusal rates increasingly important. Since June 2026, sponsors have been required to keep their visa refusal rate below 5% under the Basic Compliance Assessment framework.
Source: UK Home Office, UKVI, Enroly
Sources
UK student visa applications dropped below 100,000 for the first time since the current monthly records began in January 2022, according to Home Office figures published on 10 September 2026.
The UK received about 99,500 sponsored study visa applications from main applicants in August, around 20,800 fewer than the same month last year, representing a decline of roughly 17%.
Across June, July and August, applications were down by about 18%, marking a sharper summer decline than the period following the UK’s ban on bringing dependants on most student visas.
Other data released during the week showed mixed trends. UCAS reported a 3% rise in undergraduate acceptances from international students, while figures from Enroly showed CAS issuance down by around 27% among universities using its platform.
China remained a major source of international students, while declines were recorded across several other markets, including Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India.
The latest figures suggest that the decline in UK student visa demand is being felt particularly outside undergraduate study, especially within postgraduate recruitment.
Meanwhile, several developments added pressure to the international education sector. University of Exeter staff voted for industrial action amid concerns over potential job losses, while EC English temporarily paused new arrivals at its language schools. Canada also increased student financial requirements, and Ireland changed its citizenship residence rules.
China Drives Growth in UK International Undergraduate Acceptances
International undergraduate acceptances through UCAS reached 66,610 by Day 28 of Clearing 2026, up by 2,080 from the same point in 2025. China accounted for 2,270 of the increase, making it the main contributor to the overall growth.
The latest figures show that growth remains heavily concentrated in the Chinese market. Between Day 15 and Day 28, international acceptances increased by around 2,210, with China contributing about 1,600 of them.
China’s share of international acceptances rose to 30.2% by Day 28, compared with 28.7% on Day 15. The figures also show that international students placed through UCAS were concentrated at higher-tariff universities, according to analysis by Wonkhe.
Source: UCAS, Wonkhe
| Country | Day 28, 2025 | Day 28, 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 17,840 | 20,110 | +2,270 |
| India | 4,390 | 4,480 | +90 |
| Ireland | 2,840 | 2,990 | +150 |
| Hong Kong | 2,970 | 2,790 | −180 |
| United States | 2,460 | 2,460 | 0 |
| Malaysia | 2,370 | 2,200 | −170 |
| UAE | 1,920 | 2,030 | +110 |
| Turkey | 1,720 | 1,930 | +210 |
| Nigeria | 1,100 | 1,070 | −30 |
| All international | 64,530 | 66,610 | +2,080 |
UK September CAS Issuance Falls 26.9% as Visa Refusals Rise
UK universities issued 26.9% fewer CAS for September 2026 compared with September 2025, while visa refusals recorded by Enroly increased by 30%, according to data reported by The PIE News. The PIE News
Enroly’s figures indicate that student acceptances were down around 22%, with the final September intake projected to fall by approximately 28%. The latest refusal figures are notably different from July, when refusals were reported to be down sharply.
The data also shows significant differences between markets. Nigeria recorded a particularly large rise in refusals, while Ghana had the highest refusal rate among the markets for which Enroly provided figures.
However, Enroly’s refusal figures should not be directly compared with Home Office data because the datasets cover different periods, sponsors and measurements.
By subject, business and management CAS issuance fell 45.7%, highlighting a particularly strong decline in this area.
Source: The PIE News, Enroly data
| Country | Enroly CAS Issued,Change | Enroly Refusal Rate | Home Office Refusal Rate, Apr to Jun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | −57.9% | 10.15% | 34.2% |
| Nigeria | −37.8% | 11.9% | 25.0% |
| Ghana | −36.4% | 30.95% | 43.1% |
| Sri Lanka | −36.3% | Not given | 18.2% |
| Bangladesh | −30.2% | 9.1% | 26.5% |
| India | −24.9% | 1.86% | 9.1% |
| China | +6.6% | Not given | 0.0% |
| United States | +18% | Not given | 0.2% |
| Nepal | +24.4% | Not given | 7.5% |
| All markets | −26.9% | Count up 30% | 7.6% |
EC English Pauses New Student Arrivals Worldwide
EC English, which operates 25 language schools, temporarily stopped new student arrivals worldwide on 12 and 13 September, citing unexpected operational issues in a message to education agents. The PIE News
The move follows a difficult period for the language-school group. Student weeks reportedly declined by 23% in 2025, while overall student numbers fell by 10%. EC also closed its Bristol centre in June 2026 and plans to close its Montreal location at the end of September. The PIE News
Malta’s language-school federation FELTOM said discussions involving EC English and the country’s ELT regulator were continuing. Lovin Malta
EC English mainly serves short-course visitors, so the pause is not directly reflected in UK student visa figures. The development also highlights the importance of financial stability among education partners and pathway providers.
Source: The PIE News, FELTOM
Policy Changes Affect International Students in the US, Canada and Ireland
US: A US federal court has temporarily blocked a new rule that would have replaced the current “duration of status” system for international students with fixed admission periods. The rule was scheduled to begin on 15 September, but the court’s 14 September injunction means the existing system remains in place while the legal case continues. NAFSA: Duration of Status Rule
Canada: From 1 September 2026, international students applying outside Quebec must show CAD 23,448 for their first year of living expenses, excluding tuition and travel costs. This is up from CAD 22,895 previously.
Ireland: The Irish government has approved priority drafting of legislation that would change citizenship requirements, including a longer residence period and new language and civics requirements. The proposed changes could affect international graduates who plan to remain in Ireland after completing their studies.
Source: NAFSA, Government of Canada, Government of Ireland
Empty Student Rooms Rise in Nottingham as Demand Changes
Nottingham is seeing a notable rise in vacant purpose-built student accommodation. A city council survey found 3,541 empty beds for the 2025/26 academic year, representing a 12.7% vacancy rate among participating properties. Studio units had an even higher vacancy rate of 16.1%. Nottingham City Council report
The council linked the change partly to the UK’s 2024 restrictions on student dependants, which reduced demand from international postgraduate students who had been an important market for studio accommodation. Nottingham City Council report
Affordability is another factor. Cushman & Wakefield reported that 17% of UK student beds were priced above the maximum maintenance loan in 2025, rising to 24.4% among private-sector beds. Cushman & Wakefield
Meanwhile, Unite Group said it plans to sell around 15,000 to 20,000 beds and reduce its presence from 29 cities to about 20. Unite Group results
The figures highlight a growing mismatch between the type of accommodation available and what different groups of students can afford or need.
Sources: Nottingham City Council, Cushman & Wakefield, Unite Group, Wonkhe
UK Student Visa Applications Fall 17.3% in August
The UK recorded 99,500 sponsored study visa applications from main applicants in August 2026, marking a 17.3% decline from the same month in 2025, according to the latest Home Office data. UK Home Office statistics
August 2025 saw around 120,300 applications, meaning this year’s figure was lower by approximately 20,800. The decline also follows two previous months in which applications fell within the 17% to 20% range.
The August 2026 total is the lowest August figure since the monthly series began in January 2022.
Applications from student dependants remained relatively small. Around 1,800 dependant applications were recorded in August 2026, compared with 4,000 a year earlier and 25,100 in August 2023, before the UK’s dependant restrictions were introduced.
The latest figures point to a significant reduction in summer demand for UK study visas, although the longer-term direction will depend on application levels during the autumn intake.
Source: UK Home Office
UK Student Visa Applications Face 18% Summer Decline
August is a key month for the UK’s September university intake, and the latest figures show a significant drop in applications. Between June and August 2026, the UK received 181,500 sponsored study visa applications, down from 222,000 during the same period in 2025, a decline of 18.2%. Wonkhe analysis
The decline is slightly larger than the 16.2% summer fall recorded in 2024, following the introduction of restrictions on student dependants.
Several factors may be contributing to the latest reduction, including tighter visa scrutiny, changes to the Graduate route, new financial pressures and stronger competition from other study destinations.
From January through August 2026, the UK recorded 231,600 applications. If the current summer trend continues, the year could finish at around 337,000 applications, roughly 21% below 2025.
However, the final figure remains uncertain because September is still a major application month, and recent CAS data indicates that some of the decline may appear later in the visa figures.
Source: Wonkhe, UK Home Office
UK Student Visa Applications Show Continued Summer Decline
The latest UK student visa figures suggest that the expected recovery in applications has yet to appear. Applications fell by 18.6% in June, 19.7% in July and 17.3% in August 2026, showing a relatively consistent decline through the key summer intake period.
Home Office data shows 99,500 sponsored study visa applications from main applicants in August, the lowest August figure in the current monthly series. The figures are provisional and may be revised later.
There is also a gap between university-level CAS data and national visa applications. Enroly reported a 26.9% decline in September CAS issuance, compared with an 18.2% fall in Home Office applications across June to August. Differences in university coverage, student markets and application timing may contribute to the gap.
The refusal picture is also important. Home Office rules assess each sponsor’s refusal rate based on its own CAS-linked applications, with a 5% refusal threshold forming part of the sponsor compliance framework.
Overall, the latest data points to continued pressure on UK international student recruitment, although September applications and later revisions will provide a clearer picture of the full 2026 trend.
Source: UK Home Office, Enroly.
