UK Student Visa Applications Fall 16 Percent in Year Ending August 2026

UK student visa applications dropped 16 per cent to 360,700 for main applicants in the year ending August 2026, while dependant applications fell 22 per cent to 17,000.

The August peak for main-applicant applications weakened significantly, dropping below 100,000 for the first time to about 99,500 compared to 120,300 in August 2025.

The government attributes the collapse in dependant applications to immigration rule changes implemented on January 1, 2024, restricting most international students from bringing dependants.