With Indian students making up one of the largest groups of international scholars globally, particularly in countries like the United States, their role has been increasingly vital in the United Kingdom as well. The UK’s International Education Champion, Sir Steve Smith, recently reaffirmed India’s “absolute priority” status in the UK’s evolving International Education Strategy. Speaking at the India-UK Achievers Honours, he recently highlighted India’s importance as the new Labour government revises UK’s International Education Strategy. Smith assured that the Graduate Route post-study work visa, which is particularly beneficial for Indian students, will remain unchanged. Smith’s announcement highlights the significance of Indian students to the UK’s educational landscape and the reasons the UK is stepping up efforts to attract them through policies that value students’ educational, cultural, and economic contributions.
Indian Students in the UK: Trends in numbers
Indian students have become a vital segment of the UK’s international student population, with the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) recording a substantial rise in enrollments over the last five years. In the 2022–23 academic year, 173,190 Indian students were enrolled in UK institutions, a 39% increase from the previous year, making India the leading source of non-European Union students and surpassing China for the first time since 2018.
Since 2018–19, enrollments have grown by 145,650, according to a report by the Economic Times, with Indian students comprising 26% of all non-EU students in the UK. This growth, outpacing the global average for international enrollment, is largely driven by the Graduate Route visa, allowing students to stay in the UK for two years post-graduation to work. Before the pandemic, Indian enrollments were already climbing, with a 63% increase in Tier 4 study visas issued in 2019, as reported by UK immigration authorities.
Despite the pandemic, UK institutions continued to attract Indian students, supported by government efforts. In 2023, over 16,185 visas were issued to Indian students between April and June, according to the UK Home Office, aligning with the UK’s 2030 goal of hosting 600,000 international students, as reported by ICEF Monitor.
5 Ways the UK Benefits from Indian Students
Indian students represent a valuable cultural and economic asset in the UK, with their impact extending beyond academics. Their presence on campuses enriches the cultural fabric of universities, promoting diversity and cross-cultural learning.
Economically, international students contribute around £42 billion annually to the UK economy, as reported by Universities UK (UUK) and the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), with Indian students forming a significant share of this contribution. Key reasons for prioritising Indian students include:
Financial support for universities
Indian students are vital to the financial health of UK universities, forming a large portion of the international student body and enhancing university revenues across academic years.
Economic growth through expenditure
The spending of Indian students on housing, food, and other living expenses stimulates local economies and supports jobs around university communities, contributing to broader economic growth.
Meeting skill shortages
Indian graduates address skill gaps in crucial sectors such as technology, engineering, healthcare, and finance. The Graduate Route visa, which allows them to work in the UK for up to two years post-study, benefits both the students’ career development and the UK workforce.
Contribution to innovation and research
Indian students drive academic innovation by participating in research projects that contribute to advancements across various fields, enhancing the UK’s research output.
Strengthening UK-India relations
With many Indian students maintaining connections with the UK after returning home, their presence strengthens UK-India bilateral ties, fostering business and cultural exchanges and encouraging future collaboration across sectors.
Key initiatives by the UK govt for attracting Indian students
The UK government has introduced strategic measures to attract Indian students, streamlining visa processes, offering post-graduation work options, and formulating academic collaborations between UK and Indian institutions.
UK Graduate Route for Indian students
The UK’s Graduate Route visa allows Indian students to stay in the UK for up to two years after completing their studies, or three years for Ph.D. holders, enabling them to gain work experience. This programme has become especially popular, offering a pathway to gain hands-on experience in the UK job market, enhancing career prospects on a global scale.
However, it is worth noting that the UK Graduate Route faced uncertainty earlier this year due to a government review aimed at reducing legal migration. Fortunately, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended retaining the route in its current form, highlighting its positive impact on attracting international talent and supporting UK universities financially.
India-UK mutual recognition of qualifications
In a move to ease educational transitions and bolster career opportunities, the UK and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to mutually recognise higher education qualifications: Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ).
Prior to the signing of the MRQ agreement on July 21, 2022, Indian and UK graduates faced significant barriers in utilising their degrees in each other’s countries. Indian qualifications were not formally recognized by UK institutions, complicating admission for Indian students, while UK Master’s degrees lacked recognition in India, limiting opportunities for returning graduates.
Recognition was handled on a case-by-case basis, leading to inconsistencies and uncertainties, particularly for professional degrees in fields like Engineering and Medicine, which remained excluded from any formal recognition.
The MRQ agreement has since established a framework to facilitate the recognition of higher education qualifications, thereby enhancing educational mobility and career prospects for graduates from both nations.
It also aligns with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by promoting collaborative educational experiences through dual-degree programs and joint research opportunities.
India-UK achievers honours and alumni recognition
The India-UK Achievers Honours, led by organisations like the British Council, highlights the achievements of Indian students and alumni from UK institutions. This initiative highlights the impact of UK education on Indian graduates, inspiring future students by showcasing success stories and long-term career benefits of a UK education.
By highlighting these accomplishments, the initiative fosters a strong educational and cultural bond between the two countries, encouraging Indian students to consider the UK for their academic journey.