ÌÇÐÄVlog

A record number of Chinese applicants via Ucas for UK undergraduate courses is expected to be translated into increased applications across the board, as the country?benefits from a ¡°stable and welcoming¡± reputation when contrasted with uncertainty in the US, according to experts.

Recent figures released by the admission service show that, by the 30 June deadline,?there had been a record 65,010 18-year-old international applicants. The 9 per cent annual increase for 2025 was the largest for seven years.

Of these, a record 18,830 were from China ¨C a 25 per cent?jump from 2024.?This age group made up 56 per cent of total applicants, which was a significant change from 49 per cent the year before. Across all age groups, a peak 33,870 people from China applied. It comes after dips in applications from China in recent years.

While Ucas is only one means of applying to the UK from abroad, and only covers undergraduate courses,?the figures were ¡°excellent news¡± and a signal that the UK¡¯s higher education brand remains ¡°resilient¡±, said Lil Bremermann-Richard, chief executive of Oxford International Education Group.

¡°Although there have been fluctuations, the long-term increase suggests that Chinese families continue to value UK quality, safety and global reputation when selecting overseas study destinations.

¡°As political relations between China and the United States remain strained, there may be a shift away from traditional destinations such as the US. This situation could create long-term opportunities for the UK, which, by positioning itself as a stable and welcoming alternative, might sustain or increase this trend.¡±

Beijing and Washington have clashed in recent months over president Donald Trump¡¯s imposition of trade tariffs. US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said that the country will ¡°aggressively revoke¡± visas for Chinese students linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The final Ucas figures?follow on from record early interest from China. Julian Fisher, founder of Beijing-based consultancy Venture Education, said that employability and safety are the two major drivers in decision-making for Chinese families.

¡°Since the UK has similarly ranked universities to the US, and is currently seen as more welcoming during Trump¡¯s second term, it¡¯s no surprise numbers to the UK have increased,¡± he said. Fisher said he expects this trend to be broadly replicated at the postgraduate level.

Vincenzo Raimo, an independent international higher education consultant and visiting fellow at the University of Reading,?said the growth from China ¡°reflects more than a temporary bounce¡±.

¡°It points to a renewed confidence in the UK as a study destination, especially at a time when other countries, including the US and Australia, are tightening visa routes and becoming less predictable.¡±

At the same time, the Ucas data showed falling demand from India, the UK¡¯s second-largest market. A total of 11,310 Indian students applied for UK courses in 2025 ¨C the lowest level since 2021. The 11 per cent annual drop is the second year in a row their numbers have fallen and the largest fall since comparable records began.

In contrast to China, India¡¯s downturn seems to reflect deeper challenges in a market?that has always been more volatile and more sensitive to financial pressures, according to Raimo.

As studying in the UK becomes more expensive, post-study work rights come under pressure and Indian students increasingly look at a broader range of destinations, he said the UK is experiencing both ¡°push and pull factors¡±.

¡°Not all universities will benefit equally from the rise in Chinese applicants, and not all will feel the effects of the decline from India to the same degree.

¡°The challenge for institutions now is to understand these shifting dynamics and respond with targeted, sustainable strategies that reflect the evolving global landscape for international education.¡±

The Ucas statistics also showed a record number of applicants from the US, Turkey and Canada ¨C and a significant jump in demand from Ireland. But interest from other top source markets Hong Kong, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore all fell.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com