Indian Students: Indian undergraduate students are showing diminished interest in pursuing studies in the United Kingdom, as revealed by recent official statistics. Concerns arise as applications from India witness a 4% decline, indicating a waning enthusiasm for British universities among Indian students.
Indian Students Shunning..
Data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) unveils a divergent trend, with overall international undergraduate applications registering a modest 0.7% increase.
However, both Indian and Nigerian students contribute to a downward trajectory, contrasting with record highs in previous years. Indian student applications plummet by 4%, totalling 8,770 applications.
This decline may be attributed to the ongoing review of the Graduate Route visa, popularly known as the post-study work visa, initiated by the government led by Rishi Sunak.
This visa permits graduates to stay and work in the UK for up to two years after completing their degrees, a significant draw for Indian students.
The independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), commissioned by the Home Office, conducts this review. Indian nationals, comprising the largest cohort of students granted leave to remain under this route, represent 43% of grants in the student visa category.
Furthermore, recent restrictions implemented last month on overseas undergraduate students, barring them from bringing dependents or close relatives to the UK, also contribute to the decline in applications.
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