UK visa applications: sponsored study
UK visa applications: sponsored study stood at 45,976 Visas in Q2 2026, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Immigration, quarterly table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q4 2005 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Immigration, quarterly table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa applications | |||||||||||
| Sponsored study | 45,976 | 33,269 | 53,202 | 283,773 | 65,164 | 47,225 | 61,984 | 275,572 | 57,786 | 40,925 | |
| Other study | 519 | 593 | 1,194 | 1,551 | 1,372 | 3,843 | 5,569 | 3,000 | 884 | 1,352 |
Understanding UK visa applications: sponsored study
This indicator captures every formal entry clearance submission lodged globally by international individuals seeking to undertake educational programmes at licensed sponsoring institutions across the United Kingdom. It isolates main applicants enrolled in higher education, further education, or independent schools, while excluding dependants and short-term casual learners. This stream differs from standard visitor routes by requiring formal institutional sponsorship and granting post-study working rights where applicable.
Seasonal surges dominate this dataset, with application volumes heavily concentrated ahead of the primary academic intake quarters. Early estimates often require revision as late-enrolling students finalise their documentation and secure CAS references. Year-on-year comparisons provide a more reliable picture of long-term educational migration than sequential quarter-on-quarter changes due to extreme academic calendar seasonality.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this count include family members of students?
- No, dependant partners and children are recorded under separate dependant categories.
- Are short-term English language courses included here?
- No, short-term study lasting under specific thresholds is captured under alternative visitor or short study classifications.
- Why is year-on-year comparison preferred over quarter-on-quarter?
- Academic intake schedules create extreme seasonal variation, making annual matching essential for identifying underlying trends.