According to Apply Board Q2 2025 data, the issuance of study visas to Nigerian students has increased by 149 per cent compared to the same period in 2024, with a grant rate of 96 per cent, with the country emerging as one of the strongest markets in the United Kingdom (UK) higher education market.
The rapid recovery in the number of study visa approvals shows that demand for international education is recovering despite economic stress and tighter immigration controls.
The turnaround comes less than a year after the British government tightened rules on international students bringing their families with them, which had unfairly affected Nigerian applicants.
Also read: Nigerian visa applicants to UK can now receive e-visas
Broad trends across the UK market
Overall, there were approximately 63,000 main applicants in Q2 2025, an increase of 16% year-on-year. More than 56,000 visas were issued, an increase of 24%, but the rejection rate remained at 9% for the third consecutive quarter.
This steady demand pattern suggests stabilization after volatility in 2023.
However, agencies face increased uncertainty as the government’s 2025 Immigration White Paper proposes raising the Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) threshold. Universities may soon be required to keep rejection rates below 5 percent while ensuring enrollment and completion levels increase. Failure to do so may result in sanctions.
India continues to be the UK’s largest source of international students, with over 15,000 visas issued in the second quarter of 2025, an increase of 44% year-on-year and an issuance rate of 96%. This marks a strong recovery from last year’s slump across major English-speaking destinations.
Also read: UK to start digital e-visa for people looking to study and work in Nigeria from 15th July
new opportunities
Smaller markets also offer a reliable path for universities looking to diversify amid increased scrutiny. In Europe, Norway, Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Switzerland all recorded subsidy rates of over 99% in the first half of 2025.
outlook
While Nigeria’s resurgence highlights that recovery is possible even under difficult circumstances, a wide range of data suggests that UK institutions need to balance compliance with maintaining a diverse student body.
Universities may face difficult decisions about which markets to prioritize, as rejection criteria are tightened and admissions completion rates are set to be closely monitored from 2026 onwards.
