Chinese students are leading a surge in international university applications, with implications for the purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) property market.

According to a Knight Frank’s analysis of UCAS’s January 2025 Cycle Application deadline data, published on 13 February, international student applications have risen 2.7% year on year, with Chinese applications surging by 8.9%, indicating a potential return of international students.

Overall, 600,660 applicants applied to university as at the January deadline, according to UCAS, up 1.0% from 594,940 at the same point last year.

And international applicant numbers stood at 118,800, a 2.7% increase from 115,730 year on year.

The marked uptick in Chinese international applicants showcases a return to international students prioritising the UK as a destination for further education

The top three countries with international applicants are China (31,160 applicants by January 2025 compared to 28,620 at the same point last year (+8.9%), India (8,740 vs 8,770 (-0.3%), and the USA (6,680 vs 5,980 (+11.7%).

The UCAS Equal Consideration January deadline data for 2025 Cycle Applicants provides a gauge on what to expect for total applicant expectations, with a majority of all applicants having submitted their choices to UCAS by the end of January.

Key highlights of the data show:

• 600,660 applicants show an increase of 1.0% year on year to last January, where 594,940 potential students applied by the deadline. 600,660 applicants is a 5.7% growth since 2020
• Overall, there has been an international applicant increase of 2.7% from 115,730 (2024) to 118,800 (2025). While this data is a good indicator, UCAS is not the sole route for international applicants to attend UK universities. Alternative application routes notwithstanding, non-EU applicants have risen by 3,010 from 95,840 to 98,850
• Chinese applicant numbers saw an 8.9% increase from 28,620 to 31,160; while Indian applicants are down by 0.3% from 8,770 to 8,740, seeing a softening in numbers for the second year in a row
• Notably, EU applicants are up by 0.3% from 19,890 to 19,950 applicants. Although not a significant increase, it suggests a stabilisation in applicants from the EU which has fallen by more than 50% since 2020, where this decrease was largely due to the treatment of EU students post-Brexit

Neil Armstrong, partner and joint head of student property at Knight Frank, said of the findings: “UCAS’ January 2025 Cycle data acts as a bellwether for what we expect total results will show.

“The marked uptick in Chinese international applicants showcases a return to international students prioritising the UK as a destination for further education.

“With the UK Government easing their stance on international students, it stands in stark contrast to more-hostile rhetoric towards international students in other parts of the world, including Canada and Australia, and potentially the US.

“The result is that individuals will see the UK as preferable to alternative global study locations.”

Year on year, there has been a 4.3% increase in total application numbers for higher-tariff universities, meanwhile lower-tariff university applications decreased by 3.1%.

Medium-tariff applications largely stayed the same, with a 0.3% application increase overall.

The overall application split by tariff type shows higher, medium, and lower received 45%, 29% and 26% of all applications respectively.

International applicants have a preference to apply to higher-tariff universities, with 70% of applications to higher-tariff universities (up 5.5% year on year) and lower-tariff applications comprising only 11% of the total (a reduction of 7.4% year on year).

Armstrong concludes: “With preferences leaning towards higher-tariff universities, UK-based and international applicants are looking to the UK as a source of high-quality further education.”