Chartered ABS Pulse Survey: Business schools report declining international student enrolments in January 2026

UK business schools continue to face significant challenges, with many reporting a decline in international student enrolments for courses starting in January 2026 compared to a year ago.

New data from the Chartered Association of Business Schools reveals that approximately two-thirds of schools recorded lower enrolments for January 2026, up from 58% in the previous year's survey.

Postgraduate recruitment continues to bear the brunt of the decline, with 64% of schools reporting lower international postgraduate enrolments. However, 30% of responding schools reported an increase in international postgraduate enrolments, moderately higher than in last year's survey, suggesting some divergence emerging across the sector.

At undergraduate level, recruitment showed greater stability, with 68% of schools reporting broadly unchanged numbers.

Restrictive immigration policies continue to be a significant factor. Although fewer schools reported being impacted by the dependents' visa ban compared to last year, it remains a negative factor for the majority of respondents. Around 61% of responding schools stated the ban has had a negative impact on recruitment from specific countries and regions, and 52% reported a negative impact on recruitment for specific programmes.

Recruitment from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan was most frequently cited as being negatively affected.

Professor Stewart Robinson, Chair of the Chartered ABS, said:

"Business schools continue to face significant challenges in recruiting international students, particularly at postgraduate level, where numbers are down since last year and remain well below where they were a few years ago. Our members tell us they are struggling to meet international recruitment targets, with serious implications for the financial sustainability of the sector.

"Against a backdrop of severe strain on university finances, it is little surprise that business schools are under pressure to maintain international student numbers. Yet restrictive immigration policies, including the dependents ban, continue to impact enrolments. We remain deeply concerned about the long-term state of the sector if measures to restrict international student numbers continue in this direction."

Download the report here.