Visa curbs squeeze universities that relied on foreign students (opens the source in a new tab)
- Tighter visa rules are cutting into universities' fee income, ET reports. UK study visas fell 11% to 383,000 in the year to June 2026, 41% below the 2023 peak; Indians got 83,000 of them.
- Canada's full-time international enrolment at public institutions is down about 29% since 2023-24, with colleges hit hardest. In England, 35.8% of institutions ran a deficit in 2024-25, and that could reach 42.7%.
- In the US, international master's students in science and engineering fell 24% between 2024 and 2025.
- -41%
- UK study visas vs 2023 peak
- 83,000
- UK study visas to Indians
Why it matters Indian families weighing a costly foreign degree face a moving target: fewer visas, weaker post-study work options, and universities that may cut courses to plug the gap. Check a university's finances and visa rules, not just its ranking.
Other side Governments say the curbs ease pressure on housing and protect programme quality, and Australia's university enrolment barely fell. Students may switch countries rather than give up on studying abroad.