Amid a visa clampdown on foreign students by the UK, there has been a sharp drop in the number of Indians coming to study in the country's higher education institutions over the previous year, according to new data released today.
The UK's Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA),the official agency for the collection, analysis and dissemination of quantitative information about higher education in the country, revealed that while Indians remain the third largest category of students from outside the EU, they registered a decrease of 9 per cent in 2015-16 over the previous year.
"India saw the largest percentage decrease, at 44 per cent between 2011-12 and 2015-16. In numbers, this meant that in 2015-16, the number of student enrolments domiciled from India was 13,150 less than in 2011-12. It is worth noting however, that the decline in student enrolments domiciled from India began a year earlier, in 2010-11," the HESA said in its analysis.
"Among students from outside the UK studying at HE (higher education) providers in England, the largest numbers of first years from non-EU countries came fromChina, which showed a 6 per cent increase on 2014-15, followed by the United States which increased by 3 per cent, and then India which decreased by 9 per cent," it said.
For other EU countries, the largest number of students came from France in 2015-16, increasing by 3 per cent from 2014-15, and taking the top spot from Germany which decreased by 6 per cent.
The overall number of higher education enrolments stood at 2,280,830 in 2015-16, an increase of 1 per cent, and 14,750 in overall numbers, from 2014-15.
The figures come as the UK's Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) think tank warned today that a tougher stance by the UK Home Office towards overseas students studying at British universities could cost the country up to 2 billion pounds a year.
"Were the Home Office to conduct yet another crackdown on international students, then the UK could lose out on 2 billion pounds a year just when we need to show we are open for business like never before," said Nick Hillman, director of HEPI.
"Removing international students from the net migration target would be an easy, costless and swift way to signal a change in direction," he said.
Alistair Jarvis, deputy chief executive of Universities UK, representing the higher education sector, said, "This report provides a stark warning of the potential economic loss associated with policies that restrict European or international student numbers."
"If universities are to continue to boost the economy and benefit communities, they need the right support from government," he said.
The latest figures will add further pressure on the UK government to address the perception of a visa clampdown on international students.
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