May 23, 2026
The number of student visas issued by the United Kingdom has dropped to its lowest post-pandemic level, while refusal rates have climbed to their highest point in a decade, according to newly released government data.
Figures published by the UK Home Office on May 21 showed that 35,625 sponsored study-related visas were granted between January and March 2026, marking the lowest first-quarter total since 2020.
The figure represents a decline of nearly one-third compared with the same period in 2025 and is 60 per cent lower than the peak recorded in 2023. Applications also declined across all of the UK’s top 10 student source countries.
Over the 12 months ending in March 2026, a total of 409,954 study visas were granted. This was 3 per cent lower than the previous year and 34 per cent below the level recorded in the year ending March 2023.
