Business Standard ·
UK study visas fall 16%: New rules, fewer dependants and what's changed
Stricter dependant rules and immigration curbs are reshaping the UK study route as applications fall for a second year.
The United Kingdom recorded a 16 per cent fall in applications for sponsored study visas in the year to August 2026, with the decline coming as tighter immigration rules continue to reshape the route for international students.
According to provisional Home Office data published last week, the country received 360,700 applications from main study visa applicants in the 12 months to August 2026. This was 16 per cent lower than the corresponding period a year earlier.
