The UK government is looking to expand British education overseas, with a new goal of growing education exports to £40 billion annually by 2030.
The policy shift was reported by the Guardian and replaces a 2019 target that aimed to attract 600,000 foreign students each year to UK campuses.
The change signals a recalibration of the UK’s international education strategy as ministers balance migration pressures with the economic value of the education sector.
Under the new strategy, universities and education providers will be encouraged to open overseas hubs and form partnerships abroad, allowing students to access UK education closer to home.
The Department for Education said the revised plan removes numerical targets for international students studying in the UK and instead supports providers to expand into new global markets.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said expanding British education overseas would help institutions diversify revenue, strengthen international partnerships, and widen access to UK-quality education while still supporting domestic economic growth.
Alongside the policy shift, the government plans to introduce tougher compliance standards to ensure that international students coming to the UK are genuine.
According to the report, universities that fail to meet the new standards could face recruitment caps or lose their licence to admit overseas students.
Ministers, however, stressed that the UK remains open to international students. The government confirmed in December that the UK will rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme in 2027, reopening access to student exchange opportunities across Europe.
