The UK has a new International Education Strategy, and its focus is notably different from the previous national strategy published in 2019.
No targets for international students onshore
The 2019 strategy focused on growth with a goal to reach 600,000 international students by 2030. It took one year to achieve that target, with 605,130 EU and non-EU students studying in UK universities in 2020/21. That number has since burgeoned to over 700,000, accounting for 23% of all students and 23% of university income in the UK.
The new national strategy, published 20 January 2026, balances a continued commitment to (1) hosting international students at home and abroad and (2) reducing net migration. Those aims are often in opposition, and many governments have struggled to accomplish both.
The new strategy retains the Graduate Route, but the decision to reduce the post-study work right to 18 months in 2027 stands firm. So too does the so-called Dependants Ban, which prevents most international students from bringing accompanying family members with them to the UK.
Ambition is to increase education export income
There is no longer a target number of foreign students, but there is nevertheless a numeric target: to see UK education export income rise to £40 billion per year by 2030. The intention is to reach this target by prioritising transnational education (TNE), an area in which the UK is a world leader. More than 620,000 students across 188 countries are currently enrolled in a UK higher education programme overseas.
As a natural extension of TNE expansion, the strategy emphasises removing barriers to educational partnerships with other countries and institutions abroad:
“We will champion the UK as a trusted global partner in research, science and technology by strengthening international collaboration, showcasing UK excellence, and leveraging our global networks to enhance the UK’s international standing.”
Priority countries for partnerships and TNE continue to be India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. The UK’s International Education Champion, Sir Steve Smith, is also exploring collaborations with Brazil, Mexico, and Pakistan.
Other priority areas are English-language training (ELT), skills-based education, and edtech. The UK’s ELT sector contributes massively to the economy, injecting about £996 million in direct revenue (US$1.3 billion) in 2024 and £2 billion (US$2.66 billion) when indirect impacts are also considered.
New sectoral group formed to guide strategies and partnerships
A new Education Sector Action Group has been formed to formally see higher education providers join the International Education Champion, Steve Smith, as well as “key strategic partners such as the British Council,” in guiding strategies and problem-solving. The strategy states:
“This reformed Ministerially chaired forum will bring together industry, government, and representative bodies from across the education sector to tackle key concerns and identify opportunities for partnerships. Each representative will lead on an action plan, published within the first 100 days of appointment to ESAG, outlining how their members will support delivery of the strategies.”
TNE allows for expansion without increasing immigration
By expanding the UK’s transnational footprint, the government is clearly trying to increase education-related export revenues while avoiding bringing in too many students for the public’s comfort. Polls in 2023 and 2024 found that more than half of the population wanted to see immigration reduced. The main driver of this sentiment was upset over the number of asylum seekers coming to the UK on small boats; by contrast, more than half wanted to see the number of highly skilled workers such as doctors and nurses increase.
In 2025, the Labour government brought net migration down by restricting the visa access of foreign students’ dependants and skilled workers, but there was a 13% year-over-year increase in small boat arrivals. The number of new international students coming to the UK are in decline.
Sustainability and quality at home
For international students studying in the UK, the strategy prioritises sustainable, responsible international recruitment:
“We will continue to sustainably recruit high-quality international students from a diverse range of countries, helping them become global changemakers. We will [put] student experience, quality outcomes, and responsible recruitment at the heart of our approach.
We will also encourage sector-led initiatives to support the integrity of the UK’s immigration system, such as the Agent Quality Framework (AQF), to help tackle the risk of poor practices, protect students, and drive improved standards in the recruitment of international higher education students.
In addition, the strategy supports universities in “diversifying their recruitment, reducing reliance on any single country and strengthening cultural exchange on UK campuses.”
Industry reaction
Speaking for the higher education sector, Jamie Arrowsmith, Director of Universities UK International, welcomed the new Strategy and said it reflected industry concerns and ambition:
“The publication of the UK Government’s new International Education Strategy is an important moment, and we welcome the renewed commitment to fostering the global reach, reputation and impact of our universities.
The strategy reflects many of the priorities we set out in our Blueprint for Change and represents a positive and holistic vision of the role universities play in the UK’s global success. Importantly, it recognises the close relationship between education and research and makes a positive case for the value of international experiences for UK students alongside the expansion of transnational education and the importance of sustainable international student recruitment.
The vision that the government has today set out will help to enhance the central role that our universities play in building the UK’s soft power and ensure that our universities are drivers of opportunity and innovation globally. We look forward to working closely with government and our universities to turn these ambitions into action.”
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