Nigeria fell to fourth place in the UK’s international student market in 2025 due to a 55% decline in study visa issuances influenced by the dependants’ ban. This situation contrasts with rising applications from India and Pakistan. The overall demand for UK study visas has decreased significantly, leading to financial challenges for UK universities.
In 2025, Nigeria fell to fourth position in the UK’s international student market, trailing behind India, China, and Pakistan in study visa issuances. The UK’s Home Office reported that the largest decreases in student application numbers originated from India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, with China’s decline being less pronounced than those of the other major markets.
Alternative study destinations in Asia and the Middle East are contributing to declining interest in the UK. However, the UK’s dependants’ ban is cited as the most significant factor reducing demand. Recent data indicates an increase in international visa applications toward the end of 2024 and in early 2025, but reduced foreign enrollment is leading to financial challenges for UK universities.
The International College of Economics and Finance (ICEF) highlighted a 14 percent decline in sponsored study visa issuances in 2024 compared to the previous year, amounting to 393,125 visas issued. This aligns closely with a 15 percent reduction previously predicted due to the effects of the dependants’ ban, which significantly impacts non-European countries like Nigeria and India.
According to 2024 visa issuance statistics, the leading markets for the UK included China (102,940), India (88,860), Pakistan (35,045), Nigeria (18,900), and the US (15,275). The decline in Nigeria’s applications (-55 percent) coupled with a 13 percent surge in Pakistani demand, resulted in Nigeria dropping to fourth place behind Pakistan.
The UK’s dependants’ ban, effective January 2024, has played a crucial role in shaping student demand from countries such as Nigeria. This policy prohibits most international students from bringing family members during studies, although exceptions exist. Consequently, interest in taught master’s programmes has diminished, as previously they were a major draw for applicants from emerging markets.
As the statistics reveal, master’s programme visa issuance decreased from 66 percent in 2023 to 61 percent in 2024. The countries with the highest issuance of master’s visas are India, China, and Pakistan. Dependants’ application numbers saw an 84 percent reduction for the year ending January 2025, with visa issuances to Nigerian students plummeting by 55 percent compared to the previous year, while Indian issuances fell by 26 percent.
Interestingly, Chinese student visas declined by only 6 percent, enabling China to reclaim its status as the premier source of international students for UK institutions, reversing the trend previously seen in 2022 and 2023 where India had the top position.
In 2025, Nigeria ranked fourth in the UK’s international student market, significantly affected by a shift in demand due to the dependants’ ban enacted in January 2024. This policy, coupled with rising popularity of alternative study destinations, has contributed to a notable reduction in visa issuances for Nigerian students. Other countries such as China and India have emerged stronger, with China regaining its lead as the top source market for UK educational institutions.
Original Source: businessday.ng
