A wave of new data and reporting has landed in the last week, and together they tell a story of a sector under real pressure. On 27 January, HESA released its latest enrolment figures, confirming a significant downturn in international student numbers across the UK. At the same time, new reporting has highlighted the extraordinary rise in Master’s by Research (MRes) enrolments - an unexpected growth area that is already drawing scrutiny from policymakers.

We unpack both developments: the numbers behind the international recruitment slump, and the implications of the MRes boom that some universities are using to offset those losses.

2025: A tough year for UK international student recruitment

Fresh data on students from the 2024/25 academic year from the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) released on 27 January paints a stark picture for UK universities navigating an increasingly volatile global student market. The headline numbers are sobering:

6% overall decline in international students at UK universities
10% drop in international postgraduate enrolments
Country‑level shifts:
- India: down 12%
- China: down 5%
- Nigeria: down a dramatic 33%
- Pakistan: up 5%
- Nepal: up more than tenfold, driven largely by Australia’s tightened visa rules pushing students toward alternative destinations

These figures confirm what many in the sector have been feeling for months: the UK’s international recruitment environment is tightening, and the impact is unevenly distributed across source markets.

How will a decline in international student numbers affect UK universities?

The UK’s financial model is deeply intertwined with international tuition revenue. A 6% drop overall - and a sharper 10% fall at postgraduate level - hits precisely where universities have become most dependent. The steep declines from India and Nigeria, two of the UK’s largest and fastest‑growing markets in recent years, will be particularly painful.

Meanwhile, the surge from Nepal underscores how sensitive global mobility has become to policy shifts elsewhere. When one major destination tightens rules, another often benefits - at least temporarily.

UK MRes enrolments surge: A loophole or a lifeline?

The second major story shaping the week comes from new reporting on the explosive growth of Master’s by Research (MRes) enrolments at certain UK institutions. Students undertaking an MRes degree are currently still eligible to bring their dependants to the UK, whereas taught Masters students (MSc / MA degrees etc.) cannot. The Times Higher Education investigation reveals that some universities have expanded MRes numbers at extraordinary speed, raising concerns about quality, oversight, and potential government intervention.

Key findings from the report

The University of Greater Manchester (formerly Bolton) grew its international MRes cohort from 24 students to 1,748 in just four years.
York St John jumped from 1 to 387 international MRes students over a similar period.
Across 68 institutions providing data, MRes enrolments rose 129% between 2022–23 and 2025–26.
The surge coincides with UK visa rule changes: dependants are no longer permitted for most taught master’s students, but are still allowed for postgraduate research routes -including MRes.

Sector experts quoted in the article warn that this pattern may be interpreted by the Home Office as exploitation of a loophole, potentially triggering further restrictions. Concerns include:

Insufficient supervisory capacity
Rapid programme expansion without adequate quality controls
Reputational risk for the entire sector if a few institutions overreach

What’s the significance of increasing UK MRes enrolments?

The MRes boom is not happening in a vacuum. It intersects directly with the HESA data:

As taught postgraduate numbers fall sharply (‑10%), some institutions appear to be pivoting aggressively toward research‑labelled programmes to maintain international enrolments.
If the Home Office responds with tighter rules, the sector could lose one of the few remaining flexible routes for international postgraduates.
The pattern highlights the financial pressures driving institutional behaviour - pressures that the new HESA figures only intensify.

What do international students hoping to study in the UK need to know in 2026?

For prospective international students hoping to study in the UK, the landscape is shifting fast:

Competition for scholarships for international students may increase as universities try to stabilise recruitment from key markets.
Students from Nepal and Pakistan may find more targeted funding opportunities as universities diversify away from over‑reliance on India and Nigeria.
MRes programmes may attract more scrutiny, but also more investment - creating both opportunities and uncertainties.

For UK universities, the dual story of falling international numbers and rising MRes enrolments signals a sector at a crossroads. Financial sustainability, regulatory compliance, and global competitiveness are all in play.

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📌 Final thoughts

The combination of the HESA data and the MRes revelations paints a picture of a sector under strain but also in flux. Where there is disruption, there is also opportunity - for students, for institutions, and for policymakers willing to rethink the UK’s international education strategy.

We understand the challenges that international students face when applying to UK universities. Scholarship Scanner provides expert advice on applying to UK universities, and our scholarship blog shares latest updates on UK university funding opportunities. Our website can also help you to start your UK scholarship search and find the best financial support for your studies.

International recruitment falls, MRes enrolments surge: What this week’s data really means for UK universities