British universities are reportedly concerned about the financial implications of the new immigration rules put in place by the United Kingdom. Following warnings by leaders in the higher education sector, admission limits have been reached, leading to the deferral of entry for prospective students. Since more visas were granted to dependants than students in 2022, this move could disproportionately impact women and students from certain countries. From January 2024, Nigerian and other students will no longer be able to bring families as dependants, except under specific circumstances, as the UK government aims to bring immigration—which stands at about 1 million—down. The UK will now remove the permission for international students to switch out of the student route and into work routes to prevent the misuse of the visa system. As international student fees subsidise the teaching of home students and UK research, many are calling for covert lobbying for the Chancellor to help universities recoup their losses after the announcement. An over-reliance on tuition fees from overseas students, especially from one country like China, is also a financial risk, the Office for Students has warned.
