Study Abroad: UK has granted 1,42,848 study visas to Indians in 2023, an increase of 54%

NEW DELHI: The United Kingdom has granted 1,42,848 sponsored study visas to Indians till June 2023, latest data from UK's Home Office shows. This is 49,883 more than the number of visas granted by June 2022, an increase of 54%. According to the UK , it is the largest number of study visas granted to any nationality which is around seven times higher than previous years.

According to the UK, around 72% of visas issued to dependents of students were issued to Indians and Nigerians. Indian nationals had the second highest number of dependents, increasing from 24,858 to 43,552. The increase in Indian dependents are in-part a reflection of the increases seen in main applicants and are fairly in proportion to those changes, according to the report.

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The total number of dependants and the proportion of all sponsored study related visas granted to dependants have increased since 2019 as per the report due to change in the composition of students going to study in the UK at a higher level are more likely to already have established a family according to the latest UK data.

The number of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) presents the number of students applying to study in the main educational sectors. As per the UK in year ending June 2023, the total number of CAS used in a study visa application was 500,366 which is 29% more than the year ending June 2022. Higher education increased by 30% and all other institutions increased by 22% as per the latest data.

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The official data from the UK says that there were 4,519 short-term study visas granted in the year ending June 2023 for English language programmes lasting longer than 6 months and up to 11 months, as compared to 5,047 in June 2022.