The UK government has made a significant shift in its approach to international education, abandoning a key numerical target for recruiting students from abroad. Instead, ministers will focus on a new strategy to boost British education exports by encouraging universities to open campuses overseas.
From Recruitment Targets to Global Hubs
The Department for Education has confirmed it is scrapping the previous goal, set in 2019, of attracting 600,000 international students to study in the UK each year. This target is being replaced with an ambitious plan to increase the value of global 'education exports' to £40 billion per year by 2030.
Central to this new international education strategy is a move to bring UK education directly to international students. The government stated it wants to support universities in 'expanding internationally, building partnerships abroad and delivering UK education in new markets'. The aim is to provide a world-class British education to people 'on their own doorsteps' around the globe.
Tighter Rules and a New Levy for Onshore Students
While promoting expansion abroad, the government insists it will 'continue to welcome international students' to the UK. However, it also announced 'toughened compliance standards' to ensure those coming to study are genuine. Universities that fail to meet these standards could face recruitment caps or have their licences to sponsor international students revoked.
This comes after the introduction of a new levy of £925 per student per year of study on international students, announced in last year's autumn budget. Recent visa data shows a notable decline: 431,725 sponsored study visas were granted in the year ending June 2025, an 18% drop from the previous year and 34% down from a peak of 652,072 in the year ending June 2023.
Mixed Reactions and the Scale of the Challenge
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson championed the new direction, arguing it allows education providers to diversify income, strengthen global ties, and boost growth at home. Professor Malcolm Press, President of Universities UK, warmly welcomed the strategy, saying it signals a renewed commitment to the global reach of UK universities.
However, the move has drawn criticism from student representatives. Amira Campbell, President of NUS UK, argued that students value learning alongside peers from different countries. '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,' she said. Campbell urged the government to ensure the same high-quality experience is replicated on overseas satellite campuses.
The government plans to assist institutions by helping them 'remove the red tape to expand overseas', though they must still meet the host country's regulations. A new education sector action group will work to unblock barriers to international expansion.
Despite the policy shift, undergraduate applications from abroad have seen a slight rise. Ucas reported a 2.2% increase to 138,460 international applicants for 2025, with a record number coming from China. The existing footprint for UK education abroad is already substantial, with about 620,000 students registered with UK universities overseas across nearly 200 countries and territories.
