In a significant shift in its international education strategy, the UK government is scrapping its previous targets for recruiting international students to study in the country. Instead, the focus will be on encouraging universities to open hubs and campuses abroad, with the aim of increasing “education exports” to £40 billion per year by 2030.
The Department for Education (DfE) has outlined a new plan that moves away from the previous goal of attracting 600,000 international students annually to study in the UK. Instead, the government will introduce “toughened compliance standards” to ensure the genuineness of international students, and universities will face recruitment caps and licence revocations if they fail to meet these standards.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised the benefits of this new approach, stating that it will allow universities, colleges, and education providers to diversify their income, strengthen global partnerships, and provide millions more people with access to a world-class UK education, all while boosting growth at home.
The move comes as the UK prepares to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ programme in 2027, at a cost of £570 million. Amira Campbell, the president of NUS UK, welcomed the government’s recognition of the UK’s leading university sector, but expressed concerns about the value of international students on UK campuses, which extends beyond just economic benefits.
“The UK has a world-leading university sector – and we are glad the government are recognising this. But integral to this reputation are the international students on our campuses,” Campbell said. “We know the value of our international student peers is much more than the economic value, but the skills, experience, and knowledge they share.”
The government’s new strategy also includes the introduction of a levy on international students of £925 per year of study, which was announced in last year’s autumn budget. This comes as the number of sponsored study visas granted has decreased by 18% in the year ending June 2025, compared to the previous year, and by 34% from a peak of 652,072 in the year ending June 2023.
Despite these changes, the number of international students applying to undergraduate studies at UK universities and colleges has risen by 2.2% to 138,460 in 2025, with a record number of applicants from China, up 10%. Additionally, around 620,000 students are registered with UK universities overseas across almost 200 countries and territories.
Prof Malcolm Press, the president of Universities UK, has warmly welcomed the new strategy, stating that it “signals a renewed commitment to fostering the global reach, reputation and impact of our universities.” The government has also pledged to help institutions “remove the red tape to expand overseas” through a new education sector action group.
