Visa barriers push students from US and UK to Asia

International students are increasingly choosing universities in Asia and continental Europe over the United States and Britain due to tightening visa regulations. A global survey of 437 universities across 63 countries revealed that Britain saw the steepest decline in international undergraduate numbers, dropping by 19% during the October-August period compared to the previous year. The United States also experienced a significant drop of 13% in international undergraduate enrollment during the same timeframe. While Canada and Australia reported weaker demand, institutions in Asia and Europe saw stronger growth in international enrollment. These shifts occur as the British government seeks to reduce immigration by restricting students from bringing dependants and shortening the period graduates can remain to work. Because international students often pay much higher fees than domestic students, these figures represent a significant loss of revenue for American and British institutions. The survey, conducted by Studyportals, NAFSA, and the Oxford Test of English, found that U.S. institutions were the most pessimistic, with over one-third expecting enrollments to decrease further.