Earlier this month, the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) released data on international student enrolments for the 2023/24 academic year.1 When the agency released its previous dataset last autumn, covering the 2022/23 academic year, it revealed a high-water mark for international enrolments in the UK. These record-setting numbers in 2022/23 highlighted the UK’s global appeal amid shifting student mobility trends.
Conversely, new 2023/24 data captures the sector at a turning point. Throughout 2023 and into 2024, international education in the UK faced passed and proposed policy changes—including tightened dependant rules and questions about post-study work opportunities—as well as economic uncertainties brought about by and declining GDP in many global economies. These factors began to reshape the landscape, and while the UK’s visa data had already pointed to softened demand created by these issues, HESA’s latest figures offer a clearer look at how those pressures ultimately played out.
Today, we’ll take a closer look at the most popular level of study among international students in the UK: postgraduate studies. How have postgraduate enrolment trends shifted in the 2023/24 academic year? Which student populations drove growth at the postgraduate level? Which fields of study attracted the most interest? And how might these trends shape the future of international education in the UK? Read on to learn how these enrolment patterns can guide smarter recruitment and strategic decision-making for your team or institution.
Key Insights at a Glance
- The UK hosted over 732,000 international students in 2023/24, down 4% from the previous academic year.
- Nearly 60% of international students in the UK pursued postgraduate studies.
- For the second straight academic year, international students accounted for more postgraduate enrolments than domestic students.
- Students from Asia represented 7 in every 10 international students pursuing a postgraduate education in the UK.
- Business courses made up 40% of international postgraduate enrolments in 2023/24.
International Enrolment in the UK Dropped 4% in 2023/24 Academic Year
In the last academic year, over 732,000 international students were enrolled in the UK. This represented a 4% drop over the previous academic year:
The reduction in enrolment numbers is similar to the decline in UK student visa applications that occurred in calendar year 2023. Main applicant visa submissions fell 3% in 2023, coinciding with post-pandemic stabilization and several .
Visa data is often a leading indicator of what institutions can expect to see in their classrooms. The number of student visa applications and visas granted dipped throughout the latter half of 2023, and enrolments for the 2023/24 academic year fell by a similar proportion. The two data points don’t mirror each other exactly, however, since visa issuances only represent new students while enrolment shows longer-term, total student population trends.
That said, next year’s enrolment data may chart an even larger drop. That’s because main applicant student visa submissions fell by 12% in the 2024 calendar year. However, we expect this downturn to be more of an outlier than a long-standing trend. Main applicant visa submissions grew by 9% in Q4 2024 compared to Q4 2023, potentially reflecting renewed student confidence in the UK following the new government’s much more .
Postgraduate Courses in the UK Relying More on International Student Enrolment
When it comes to study level, international students gravitate toward postgraduate studies over undergraduate courses in the UK. In the 2023/24 academic year, nearly 60% of international students in the UK pursued postgraduate studies:
We predicted in our analysis of last year’s HESA data that the 2023/24 enrolment figures would show a larger decline at the postgraduate level than the undergraduate level. That was because the older students who typically make up the postgraduate cohort were more likely to be affected by restrictions on dependants than the often younger undergraduate students.
This prediction turned out to be true. The UK hosted 4% fewer postgraduate students in 2023/24 than the previous academic year, whereas undergraduate enrolments fell by just 2%.
But even with this drop, international students accounted for more postgraduate enrolments than domestic students for the second straight academic year:
Domestic student enrolment at the postgraduate level has been declining year-over-year since 2020/21. Meanwhile, as global interest in the UK as a study destination continued to rise, this led to more international students pursuing postgraduate studies at UK institutions than domestic students in 2022/23, a trend that continued into the subsequent academic year. If this trend continues, international student recruitment will be more important than ever for UK institutions looking to maintain and grow enrolment levels in their postgraduate courses.
Only one in every five domestic students pursued postgraduate studies in the UK in 2023/24. However, three out of five international students were enrolled in a postgraduate-level course.
Top Student Populations in Postgraduate Studies in 2023/24
In 2023/24, 300,000 of the 436,000 international students enrolled in postgraduate studies in the UK came from Asia, representing nearly 70% of the country’s postgraduate international students:
India, China, and Nigeria remained the leading source countries for UK postgraduate enrolments in 2023/24, even as each had notable year-over-year declines. Nigeria’s 23% drop, in particular, reflected a significant shift compared to the previous year’s growth—though not a surprising one, given Nigerian students were arguably the most impacted by the government’s added restrictions on student dependants.
At the same time, rapid growth from Pakistan (+38%), Nepal (+51%), and Ghana (+20%) reflects a gradual diversification of the UK’s postgraduate student base. What’s more, visa demand from main applicant Pakistani and Nepalese students was resilient throughout 2024, potentially positioning these student populations to play an even greater role in UK postgraduate enrolments in the years ahead.
Beyond Pakistan and Nepal, several other student populations recorded strong growth in 2023/24. Postgraduate student enrolments from Iran (+29%), Kenya (+26%), Indonesia (+20%), Vietnam (+12%), and Turkey (+11%) all grew markedly year-over-year, which highlights how a broadening range of markets are contributing to the UK’s postgraduate international student base. While total enrolment numbers from some of these populations are comparatively modest, their growth still underscores opportunities for institutions to diversify their recruitment strategies.
What Postgraduate Fields of Study do International Students Pursue in the UK?
In 2023/24, Business, Computing, and Engineering and Technology were the most popular postgraduate fields of study among international students in the UK. Together, they represented nearly three in every five international postgraduate enrolments:
Business and Management continued to dominate the landscape for international postgraduate studies in the UK in 2023/24. Nearly 40% of all international postgraduate students pursued this field, though the total number of enrolments fell 5% compared to 2022/23. Computing enrolments stayed relatively stable, dipping by just 1%, while Engineering and Technology experienced a sharper 10% drop over this period.
In fact, most major subject areas saw year-over-year declines in international postgraduate enrolment. Social sciences, subjects allied to medicine, and the arts recorded decreases between 2% and 5%.
Law, biological and sports sciences, and psychology were the only fields to grow in 2023/24, with international postgraduate enrolments increasing in each of these fields by 2%. These trends point to sustained demand for business and tech courses, but also signal shifts in student preferences that could reshape postgraduate enrolment patterns in the UK by the end of the decade.
Diversification is Key for Continued UK Resiliency
The 2023/24 academic year was a pivotal time in the UK’s international education sector. After years of record growth, international student enrolments softened amid a convergence of policy tightening, economic pressures, and shifting global competition. While postgraduate enrolments remained strong relative to domestic student demand, signs of a more competitive landscape are emerging.
Looking forward, the modest rebound in visa applications late in 2024 suggests that international student interest in the UK is resilient. However, institutions must continue to adapt to a more complex environment shaped by evolving policies, cost-of-living concerns, and growing opportunities in emerging study destinations. Strategic engagement with a broader range of source markets, along with continued support for student employability and experience, will be key to sustaining momentum and fostering growth in the years ahead.
Institutions that anticipate and adjust to changing enrolment patterns will be best positioned to thrive in the evolving UK landscape. 91ÁÔÆæ’s strategic insights and recruitment expertise can help you stay ahead of shifting market dynamics, connect with high-potential students, and drive sustainable growth. Get in touch with our Partner Relations team to learn how we can support your recruitment strategies and help you chart a path forward.
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FOOTNOTES:
1. All enrolment data courtesy of . Academic years are from August of the previous year to July of the given year. For example, the 2023/24 academic year spans August 2023 to July 2024.
