The United Kingdom of Africa
After the UK government's ban on dependents came into effect on January 1, 2024, the number of African students applying for international student visas to the UK (UK) fell significantly.
Experts say if restrictions remain, the decline will continue and create financial difficulties for UK universities.
The UK government grants only dependent visas if:
• Government sponsored students will start the course for more than six months.
•Full-time graduate student in courses that last for more than nine months.
• Courses launched after January 1, 2024: PhD or other PhD students, or research-based advanced.
Dependants are husbands, wives or civic partners, unmarried partners, or children under the age of 18 (including those born in the UK during student's stay).
A widespread decline in demand
In 2024, an analysis by Canadian technology company Appladyboard found that African countries traditionally with the UK's most international students had applications from Nigeria and Ghana, where the UK has fallen by 50% and 45% respectively. From 2023-24, Nigeria had the highest proportion of UK international student population, or 1.24 dependency and application. Ghana ranked third behind Sri Lanka with a ratio of 0.78.
According to Applboard, “The UK processed over 423,000 sponsored learning visas for major applicant international students in 2024, representing a 12% decrease from the previous year, down from the decline in student visas seen at other destinations in 2024.
Demand from other African countries also declined, but the decline rate was generally much lower than that of major African and non-African student countries, said Khaled El Henawi, Associate Vice President of Applicant's Middle East and Africa.
For example, 1,600 visas were issued to Egyptian students, down 7% from the previous year. Similarly, demand from Morocco fell by 11%, with only 1,100 visas being issued.
The trend continues
Demand from South Africa and Zimbabwe fell by 8%, with 625 and 595 student visas respectively. The most conservative decline was seen in Algeria, or 3%. A total of 700 visas were granted in 2024. One country that doesn't fit the pattern is Kenya. The number of student visa applications increased by 28% in 2024 compared to 2023.
“There are many reasons to think these trends will remain stable or grow after 2025. First and foremost, we have already seen a much more positive message from the government to international students, and we expect this to be maintained and reflected after the launch of the new UK International Education Strategy.”
“Since work after studying abroad is a top priority for international students, it could help rebuild trust in major countries affected by dependent policy changes, such as Nigeria and Ghana, and promote long-term interest,” he said.
If Kenya is concerned, El Henawi said the country has “emerging as an important market for UK higher education… This growth indicates an increase in demand for UK education in East Africa as students seek quality academic programs and strong post-study job opportunities.”
More opportunities
Career aspirations and post-study job opportunities are key factors driving students into the UK and not their ability to bring dependents, he said. “With the growing demand for international education across Africa, mobility trends for students in Kenya illustrate new opportunities for international students.”
Following the Kenya example, demand from other African countries rose between 3% and 43%, but none of them had more than 400 visa applications, El Henawi said. These countries include Sudan, Zambia, Somalia, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Several factors contribute
Helen Maxwell, UK Business Development Manager for NCC Education in London, warned that if restrictions remain unchanged, the decline would likely last until 2025, and would likely pose financial agendas for UK universities that rely on international tuition fees.
“Beyond visa policies, the increase in cost of living in the UK is another major deterrent. The increased financial requirements for visas, surge in accommodation, inflation and weak local currency have made studying in the UK much more expensive,” she told University World News.
“As a result, students are increasingly exploring alternative destinations such as Canada, Germany, and Ireland. Tuition and cost of living are more manageable.”
She explained that while a 28% increase in Kenya's applications is an emerging market, countries that are less likely to bring dependents, such as Zimbabwe and Uganda, could also present opportunities for growth.
For the UK to remain competitive, its universities and policymakers may need to introduce better financial support, scholarships and affordable accommodation to attract international students, Maxwell said.
Shopping for better options
In Nigeria, the situation is getting worse by a combination of visa restrictions and regulations, similar to the depreciation of Naira in Nigeria, according to David Babalola, CEO of Dalewares Institute of Technology in Lagos and David Babalola, CEO of NCC Education Partners and Placement Agent.
“It was also responsible for the lack of 'creativity and innovation' in the admissions process used by universities that continue to do the same for ages they don't want to do for years, he said.
Like Maxwell, Babarola expects the downward trend to “becomes undoubtedly” in 2025, which has negatively impacted UK universities, including those recruiting in Nigeria, making the country one of the top five UK senders in the world.
“Let's also mention that African and Nigerian students seeking admission abroad will start shopping for better, cheaper and more stringent destinations in the future,” he predicted.
Recognition and access are major challenges
Meanwhile, the rate of visa deniability for African students who want to study in Canada stands at 70% between 2019 and 23, so the lack of awareness of what to do about denial and lack of access to legal options is the two biggest challenges they are appealing.
Meanwhile, Africans who know the options available assume that legal representation is expensive and financially out of reach, thereby waiving their right to appeal, and then abandoning the opportunity to study at global, global destinations.
While much of the rejection comes from avoidable errors that have been partially condemned for lack of access to “clear, structured guidance,” addressing the original rejection reasons is critical to the success of the application, says Michael Pietrocarlo, Head of Marketing at BorderPass, a Canadian and American immigration consultant.
