Home Office data also showed that around 74,000 Indian nationals left the UK in the year ending June 2025, the highest departure figure among non-EU countries during that period
Indian nationals are now the largest group of international students in the United Kingdom, overtaking China for the first time in recent years. According to the UK Home Office, 95,231 sponsored study visas were granted to Indian students in the year ending December 2025. In comparison, 89,019 visas were issued to Chinese students.
While the number of Indian students rose by 3 per cent over the year, Chinese student numbers fell by 7 per cent. Overall, Indian nationals made up 23 per cent of all sponsored study visas granted to main applicants, giving them the largest share among all nationalities.
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Visa refusal rates for Indian applicants remained low at around 4 per cent
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This is much lower than the double-digit refusal rates recorded for applicants from countries such as Pakistan and Nigeria
Indians also led in the UK’s Graduate Route, which allows international students to stay and work after completing their degrees. A total of 90,153 Graduate Route extensions were granted to Indian nationals — about 42 per cent of all such extensions worldwide. Nigeria and Pakistan followed behind.
In addition, Indians received the highest number of skilled worker visa extensions, with 90,031 approvals. The median salary for these extensions increased to £38,700, reflecting higher minimum salary requirements introduced recently.
However, policy changes have had an impact. After new rules in January 2024 restricted most students from bringing family members, the number of dependents accompanying Indian students dropped by nearly 80 per cent.
