The number of Indian applicants to UK undergraduate programs declines

LONDON: The amount of Indian students enrolling to British universities for undergraduate degrees has decreased as a result of the country’s high cost of living, housing problems, and divisive political discourse.

According to data issued on Thursday by UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service), which manages undergraduate admissions for full-time study, fewer Indian students are applying for bachelor degrees than there were in 2008 for the first time.
By the deadline of January 31, 2023, 9,130 Indians had applied; by 2024, however, just 8,770 had, a 4% decrease.

Additionally, the number of applications from Pakistan (-10%) and Nigeria (-45%) has decreased. China (+3%), Canada (+14%), and Turkey (+38%) had the biggest gains.

115,730 foreign students applied by the January deadline for September 2024 entrance, up from 114,910 the year before. This represents a mere 0.7% increase in the total number of international students seeking for undergraduate spots.

The president of the Indian National Students Association UK, Amit Tiwari, attributed the deterrent effect of the strong pound and the high expense of living in the UK on Indians. There is a severe lack of lodging. Ten Indian kids sharing a room, as far as I know,” he said. “After graduating, very few students go on to get long-term employment. The reality does not match the slick brochures,” he said.

The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK’s founder and head, Sanam Arora, attributed the decline to recent reforms that give the impression that the UK does not welcome overseas students.