Sponsored study visas - September update

UK sponsored study visa applications continued to decrease through September 2026. The rolling 12-month total fell to 352,500, down from a peak of over 500,000 in late 2023. For the main September intake, there were 71,600 main applicant visas, representing a 10.3% decrease compared to September 2025.

Dependant applications also remained low following recent policy changes restricting family members. In September 2026, there were 1,800 dependant applications, a 41.9% decrease from September 2025. This is notably lower than the peak of 22,600 dependant applications recorded in September 2023.

For more information about our proprietary, highly granular data covering UK student accommodation, contact the StuRents Research team today. Book a demo of our Data Portal to find out how you can have up-to-the-minute university housing insights at your fingertips, or get in touch with us about our Occupancy Survey.