UK visa for Indian students increase by 63%

NEW DELHI : As an increasing number of Indian students are choosing to go to the United Kingdom (UK) for higher studies, the number of student visas have increased by about 63% for the year ending September 2019.

According to latest statistics from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), 30,550 Indian students received a Tier 4 Study Visa in the year, up from nearly 18,730 the previous year. The statistics further reveal that more than 5.12 lakh Indians were granted tourist visas to the UK, marking a 9% increase as compared to the previous year, the British High Commission in India said.

“This is now the third consecutive year in which the numbers have increased. It is important to us, because these young leaders of tomorrow will reinforce the living bridge that connects India and the UK,” said Sir Dominic Asquith, the UK High Commissioner to India, who said the statistics confirm that more Indians are choosing to study at the UK’s “world-class educational institutions”.

The ONS data overall indicates that over the last decade, around 270,000 Indian students have chosen the UK as a higher education destination. The UK is home to three of the world’s top 10 universities.

“The positive growth in student visa statistics, along with the great collaboration between the Indian and UK higher education sectors, ensures that education continues to be key in the relationship between our two countries,” said Barbara Wickham, Director India, British Council.

Overall, it is estimated that more than 1 in 5 of all UK visas are granted to Indian nationals and 90% of Indian applications are successful, which is above the global average.

India also continues to top the number of skilled worker Tier 2 visas granted by the UK over the previous year at 56,241, up from 55,136.

“Indian nationals account for over half (51 per cent) of all Tier 2 visas granted. However, in the latest year there were also notable increases in grants for nationals of the Philippines (up 1,998 or 57 per cent), Nigeria (up 1,446 or 71 per cent), India (up 1,105 or 2 per cent) and Egypt (up 1,062 or 76 per cent),” the UK Home Office said in reference to the analysis.