UK scraps International Student Targets in Policy Shift

The UK government is scrapping target numbers for international student recruitment and instead prioritising the global expansion of British education.

Ministers will encourage universities and colleges to establish overseas hubs, positioning UK qualifications closer to students’ home countries.

The shift forms part of a new international education strategy, which sets a goal of growing global “education exports” to £40 billion annually by 2030.

That replaces a 2019 policy aim of recruiting 600,000 international students to study in the UK each year.

The Department for Education said the strategy reflects a move away from volume-based recruitment towards international delivery and partnerships.

The DfE said: “This approach removes targets on international student numbers in the UK and shifts the focus towards growing education exports overseas by backing UK providers to expand internationally, build partnerships abroad and deliver UK education in new markets.”

Alongside overseas expansion, the government will tighten oversight of institutions recruiting students to the UK.

New “toughened compliance standards” will be introduced to ensure arrivals are genuine students.

Universities that fail to meet those standards could face recruitment caps or lose their sponsor licences entirely.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said expanding abroad would protect institutional finances while broadening access to UK education.

She said: “By expanding overseas, our universities, colleges and education providers can diversify income, strengthen global partnerships and give millions more access to a world-class UK education on their doorstep, all whilst boosting growth at home.”

Ministers stressed the UK would “continue to welcome international students”, despite recent policy changes that have reduced inward flows.

In December, the government confirmed the UK would rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ programme from 2027.

However, student representatives warned that overseas delivery should not come at the expense of campus diversity or educational quality.

Amira Campbell, the president of NUS UK, said students wanted to “learn alongside our peers rather than being on different continents”.

She said: “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 international students contributed far more than tuition fees.

She added: “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 must ensure the same high-quality teaching and well-rounded university experience enjoyed by students in the UK is present across all satellite campuses, including abroad, and that we see investment in a high-quality experience for students regardless of location.”

The strategy follows a sharp fall in international students arriving in the UK.

In last year’s autumn budget, ministers introduced a levy of £925 per international student, per year of study.

In the year ending June 2025, 431,725 sponsored study visas were issued. That was down 18% year on year and 34% lower than the June 2023 peak of 652,072.

Application data, however, suggests overseas interest in UK degrees remains resilient.

Ucas said international undergraduate applications increased by 2.2% in 2025, reaching 138,460.

Applicants from China rose by 10%, the highest level on record.

UK universities already operate at scale abroad.

Around 620,000 students are registered with UK institutions overseas, across almost 200 countries and territories.

University leaders welcomed the government’s emphasis on global reach.

Professor Malcolm Press, the president of Universities UK, said he “warmly welcomed the strategy”.

He said it “signals a renewed commitment to fostering the global reach, reputation and impact of our universities”.

Institutions opening facilities abroad must still comply with host country regulations.

The DfE said it would support providers to “remove the red tape to expand overseas”.

A new education sector action group will bring together universities, colleges, schools and the government’s international education champion.

Its role will be to identify and remove barriers to overseas expansion as the strategy is rolled out.