Drop in Number of Indian Students Registering for UK Visa Approval
- UK Office evaluated a major drop from 40,500 in 2010 to 9,600 in 2016 in the number of Indian students applying for UK student visas.
- The report has also concluded that most of the Indian students in UK leave the country before their visa expiry.
The UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) has recorded a major drop in the number of Indian students registering for UK Visa approval. It has also be found that the number of students opting UK as their destination for study abroad has dropped from 40,500 in 2010 to 9,600 in 2016.
CEO of London & Partners and Study London, Andrew Cooke, said that according to the analysis, India provides the fourth largest student population in London. He also added that it is essential for the economy of the country that international students continue to feel welcome in UK.
According to the report, majority of the Indian students leave UK as soon as their graduation is over or before their student visa expires. Close to 7,470 Indian students left the country prior to their visa expiry date and only 2,209 students had requested for an extension in their visas.
ONS data also stated that Indian, Thai, North American and Chinese are more likely to leave UK before their study visa or extension expires. On the other hand, Russian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Saudi Arabian students request for visa extensions to stay in UK.
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Taking this drop in the number of international students into account, UK home secretary Amber Rudd has presented a new assessment of how the UK economy and labour market is affected by international students from EU as well as non-EU nations.
Rudd also added that it is a matter of pride that UK is the second most popular global destination for students seeking education abroad. He also added that there is no limit to the number of international students that can be welcomed by the country.
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The MAC report is expected to be released on September 2018 and will help in pushing the UK PM Theresa May to subtract student figures from the overall migration data. The report will also evaluate the number of international students and how they impact the local and national economy also how they help in the economic growth of UK.