In May 2023, the United Kingdom government’s announcement of restrictions on the ability of international students to bring dependents into the country has sent shockwaves through the academic realm. The decision, set to take effect in January 2024, aimed to alleviate pressure on the housing infrastructure and regulate migrant influx, according to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery.
However, the repercussions of this policy have been swift and severe, particularly impacting the admission rates of international students, including those from Nigeria, to UK universities. A report by the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) Annual Membership Survey revealed that most universities in the UK are struggling to meet their admission targets for the 2023/24 academic year due to the dependents visa ban.
The report highlighted that 44% of the country’s business schools anticipate missing their non-EU recruitment targets this year. Of these, 22% reported being “significantly below” their target enrollments. The survey noted a variation in results based on the level of study, with nearly half of the schools at the undergraduate level exceeding their goals, while almost 50% at the postgraduate level reported recruitment below targets for non-EU international students.
Countries like India, Pakistan, and Ghana have seen significant increases in non-EU enrolments, with the report noting growth in enrollments from Nepal and Saudi Arabia as well. However, the most frequently cited countries for declining enrollments were China and Nigeria, indicating a potential reversal in the trend of recruitment from these key nations.
Nigerians and Chinese, affected by the dependents visa restriction policy, have reduced their admissions to British universities. Instead, they are turning to Canadian and Australian universities, which are now perceived as more migrant-friendly destinations. The report highlighted a decline in the number of international students, particularly from Nigeria and China, seeking admission to study Master in Business Administration (MBA) programs in the UK.
The British government’s move to limit accompanying dependents was driven by the significant increase in the number of dependants of overseas students, reaching 136,000 people, a 750% increase since 2019. The CABS survey respondents overwhelmingly expect negative impacts on non-EU enrolment due to the policy, anticipating MBA programs to be most affected, as older students often wish to bring their families.
As a response to the challenges posed by the dependents visa ban, some UK universities are reassessing their strategies. This includes considering a shift to online delivery for MBA and Master’s programs, focusing on growing international student numbers at the undergraduate level, and acknowledging the competitive advantage gained by business schools in Australia and Canada.
The survey concludes that UK universities, highly dependent on business school tuition revenue, are facing financial strain, with 30% expecting a decrease in income compared to only 2% in the previous year’s survey.
