UK universities embrace technology to combat fall in international students

The government has published its which shows that Sponsored study visa applications were down 13% in the year to January 2025, when compared to January 2024. 

Lisa Randall, partner and national head of higher education at 91探花, comments: “Visa applications in January 2025 continued the downward trend, with UK universities now feeling the impact of the policy change on dependents introduced in 2024. We’re seeing an increase in the number of universities facing financial pressures and therefore implementing cost-cutting measures to preserve funds and manage the incoming rises to employers’ National Insurance contributions from April. 

“As a result, we’re going to see significant changes in the sector with many institutions transforming their delivery models to combat headwinds. In some cases, universities are working with staff to reduce their working hours or opt for voluntary severance to mitigate against rising costs and declining international student numbers. In more extreme cases, major restructurings are seeing hundreds of job cuts and the closure of some academic programmes.” 

She added: “However, business transformation does bring opportunities as well as challenges. The changing student profile is pushing universities to create more efficiencies and learning opportunities which align with the government’s growth-driving industries and evolving job market. The University of Edinburgh is leading the way in Scotland’s AI revolution, amidst AI course enrolments across the UK increasing by 453% in 2022/23. The government’s recent wholesale support for the AI Opportunities Action Plan highlights future higher level skill needs. Universities therefore need to embrace new technologies within the complex and evolving higher education landscape, adapting new delivery models and preparing students for an AI-driven job market.”