LONDON — The number of Nigerian students moving to the United Kingdom has dramatically decreased following recent British policy shifts aimed at curbing migration, Home Office figures reveal.
In the first six months of 2024, only 4,669 “main applicant” student visas were granted to Nigerians, a stark 68% drop from the 14,772 visas issued during the same period last year. This significant decline accounts for nearly half of the overall fall in overseas student visas granted by the UK.
The sharp decrease comes in the wake of a new rule implemented in January, prohibiting foreign postgraduate students from bringing family members to Britain. Historically, Nigerian students have constituted one of the largest groups of foreign students in the UK, often accompanied by the highest number of dependents.
This policy shift has had far-reaching consequences:
- Overall decline in African students: The number of students arriving from African countries has generally decreased, with only minor increases from a few nations like Kenya.
- Shift in student preferences: Skilled Nigerian students are increasingly opting for universities in the United States and Canada.
- University funding crisis: The drop in international students has deepened a funding crisis in British universities, which rely heavily on tuition fees from non-EU overseas students.
The Office for Students (OfS), England’s independent higher education regulator, warned in a May report that this trend could threaten the existence of some universities. “If providers are not able to evolve and adapt successfully to the changing financial landscape, there is a significant risk that some will become unsustainable,” the report stated.
While the policy appears successful in its aim to reduce immigration, it has sparked concerns in the UK’s higher education sector. Many universities now fear significant funding shortfalls, with international student fees accounting for nearly 20% of their total income.
