Nigeria has slipped to fourth place in the United Kingdom’s (UK) international student market, trailing behind India, China, and Pakistan in terms of sponsored study visa issuances for 2025.
According to a report from the UK Home Office, “The largest declines in visa issuances were recorded from India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh.
Although China also saw a drop, it was significantly smaller compared to other top markets, allowing it to reclaim its position as the leading source country for UK universities.”
The report also noted that alternative study destinations in Asia and the Middle East are attracting more international students, but the UK’s policy restricting dependants of international students remains the primary reason for the decline.
Decline in Visa Issuances
Data from the International College of Economics and Finance (ICEF) shows that the total number of sponsored study visas issued to international students in 2024 was 393,125—a 14% drop compared to 2023.
This aligns closely with ICEF’s previous prediction that visa restrictions, particularly the dependants’ ban, would significantly impact student numbers from countries such as Nigeria and India.
Nigeria saw one of the steepest declines, with a 55% drop in visa issuances, leading to its fall from third to fourth place among the UK’s top student markets.
Pakistan, which experienced a 13% increase in student visas, has now moved up to third place.
Top 10 Countries for UK Student Visas in 2024
The leading countries based on visa issuances for international students in 2024 were:
1. China – 102,940 visas
2. India – 88,860 visas
3. Pakistan – 35,045 visas
4. Nigeria – 18,900 visas
5. United States – 15,275 visas
6. Nepal – 12,235 visas
7. Bangladesh – 6,400 visas
8. Malaysia – 5,420 visas
9. Hong Kong – 5,180 visas
10. Saudi Arabia – 4,875 visas
Impact of the Dependants’ Ban
The UK’s decision to restrict most international students from bringing family members has had a significant effect on student enrolment from Nigeria, India, and Bangladesh.
Since January 2024, only students in research-focused postgraduate programs or those on government scholarships have been allowed to bring dependants.
Before this policy, master’s degree programs were especially attractive to students from emerging markets because they permitted dependants. The new restriction has led to a decline in the share of study visas issued for master’s programs, falling from 66% in 2023 to 61% in 2024.
The impact has been particularly harsh on Nigerian students, whose visa issuances dropped by 55% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Similarly, Indian students saw a 26% decline, while Chinese students experienced only a 6% reduction.
With China’s slower decline compared to India, it has once again become the top source country for UK universities, reversing a trend seen in 2022 and 2023 when India led in student numbers.
As the UK tightens its immigration policies, international students from Nigeria and other affected countries may begin to explore alternative destinations with more flexible visa policies.
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