The United Kingdom government aims to boost British education abroad, setting a new target of £40 billion in annual education exports by 2030.

According to the Guardian, this policy replaces the 2019 goal of attracting 600,000 international students to UK campuses each year.

The shift reflects a strategic adjustment in the UK’s international education approach, as ministers weigh migration concerns against the sector’s economic benefits.

Under the updated strategy, universities and education providers will be encouraged to establish overseas hubs and form international partnerships, giving students the chance to access UK education closer to home.

The Department for Education stated that the new plan drops specific numerical targets for international students in the UK, instead focusing on helping providers expand into new global markets.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said that expanding British education abroad would allow institutions to diversify their revenue, build stronger international partnerships, and broaden access to UK-quality education, while continuing to support domestic economic growth.

The government also plans to introduce stricter compliance measures to ensure that international students coming to the UK are genuine.

Universities that fail to meet these new standards could face limits on recruitment or risk losing their licence to admit overseas students, the report said.

Ministers emphasized that the UK remains welcoming to international students. The government confirmed in December that the UK will rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme in 2027, restoring student exchange opportunities across Europe.

The announcement comes amid a decline in study visas. In the year ending June 2025, the UK issued 431,725 sponsored study visas, down 18% from the previous year and 34% below the peak recorded in 2023.