The UK's International Education Strategy 2026
Strategy setting out the government’s plans for UK international education and how it will support the sector access global opportunities.
The International Education Strategy Update, coordinated across the Department for Business and Trade, Department for Education, and Department for International Trade, positions UK education as a strategic export sector and tool for soft power and economic growth. The 2026 strategy update emphasises education's role in Asia-Pacific trade relationships, alignment with industrial strategy, and cross-government coordination through embassies and trade missions. Current focus includes deepening partnerships with Japan, integrating education into broader economic security dialogues, and maximising UK higher education and digital education exports.
Strategy setting out the government’s plans for UK international education and how it will support the sector access global opportunities.
UIN: HCWS1256 Today I am announcing the launch of the UK’s refreshed International Education Strategy.Together the Department for Education, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, are setting out a vision and roadma...
UIN: HLWS1255 My Hon Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Children and Families) (Josh MacAlister) has made the following statement:Today I am announcing the launch of the UK’s refreshed International Education Strategy.Together the Departme...
Attendees and discussion points at the meeting of the Interministerial Group for Education on 13 November 2025.
The UK should explore with Japan the potential to widen the partnership to include digital and cyber technologies, to explore potential ties to the AUKUS programme, and to develop joint exports to allies across the region. 34 Furthermore, the Government …
Education and higher education are critical export sectors in Asia-Pacific and strategic enablers of the best possible export environment in the region. The Government’s trade strategy should confirm that education is a priority sector and the Industrial Strategy Council should …
In response to: UK Education Ministers Council communiqué: 20 November 2024
Minutes from cross governmental group working to increase international opportunities for UK organisations in the education sector.
Education provides one of the most promising opportunities for the UK to be a force for good and to build soft influence in Central Asian countries—contributing to a generation of educated young people who know English and have had exposure …
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) should publish a strategy, to be circulated across its international diplomatic network, which sets out guidance and expectations for embassies on holding events to mark Scotland’s key dates, St Andrew’s Day and Burns …
We heard that UK Government activity in relation to promoting Scotland internationally, for example through ministerial visits, could sometimes be perceived as lacking a bigger strategic picture. The Secretary of State for Scotland described the UK Government’s strategy for Scotland …
In response to this report, the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland—in consultation with the FCDO—should provide a clear strategy containing its measurable priorities and objectives for promoting Scotland internationally alongside the actions it is undertaking—and will undertake …
In response to this report, the UK Government should provide an annual written update to the committee on how the Hub is supporting the delivery of the UK Government’s trading outcomes and its priorities for Scotland. The UK Government should …
The Government should also seek to support student numbers to grow from India, but also expand our Science and Technology co-operation, putting it at the centre of our ambitions with our Indian partners. (Paragraph 214) Indonesia Type: recommendation | Number: …
We recommend that the Government examine current visa procedures with a view to facilitating entry for those visiting the UK from Indo-Pacific partner countries for purposes such as studying, teaching or doing business. (Paragraph 132) Tilting horizons: the Integrated Review …
The Department should publish an updated Careers Strategy, developed in consultation with other Departments and relevant stakeholders, by the end of 2024. This should include clear, measurable outcomes and dates by which these should be achieved, including targets for increasing …
In response to: Communiqués from the Interministerial Group for Education: January 2022 to June 2023
In response to: International Education Strategy: 2023 update
In response to: International Education Strategy: 2023 update
In response to: International Education Strategy: 2023 update
2023 update to the International Education Strategy highlighting progress, UK government support to the UK education sector and future priorities.
We recommend that the Government should work with the creative industries at a strategic level and establish a creative industries export office. This should be coordinated by the DCMS but involve officials from all relevant departments, such as the Department …
We are concerned that the financial sustainability of some providers is being put at risk by their heavy dependence on their ability to continue growing overseas student numbers. Many providers are already highly dependent on cross-subsidy to make up deficits …
The OfS assured us that it consulted widely on changes to its regulatory framework and holds meetings and workshops with stakeholder groups. However, there is no routine way in which it captures structured stakeholder feedback through which it can gather …
The medium- and long-term financial sustainability of some providers is heavily dependent on continued growth in student numbers, particularly overseas students. In 2018, providers forecasted that the number of non-EU students would grow by 29% between the 2019/20 and 2024/25 …
The Department described the responsibility for maximising international student participation as being a shared one between government as a whole and individual institutions. We expressed concern about potential tensions between the aims of the Department, along with the Department for …
We received written evidence from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), which told us that it also projected growth in recruitment of both domestic 18-year-olds and international students between now and 2026. UCAS projected that the 2026 admissions cycle …
In 2019–20, more than 340,000 overseas students came from 204 countries worldwide (excluding the EU and UK): 35% of those came from China and 14% from India.30 We received written evidence from Universities UK that this income stream may be …
In response to: International Education Strategy: 2022 update
Update to the 2021 International Education Strategy highlighting progress, UK government support to the UK education sector and future priorities.
UIN: HCWS777 As the House will be aware, at COP26 the Department for Education launched its Draft Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy for the Education and Children’s services systems. Since then, we have engaged widely with young people, educators, academics, …
UIN: HCWS396 On our inaugural International Trade Week, we have today launched our Export Strategy - ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’. This is the first Export Strategy since the UK became a sovereign trading nation. Some businesses, …
UIN: HLWS382 My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade (Anne - Marie Trevelyan MP) has today made the following statement.On our inaugural International Trade Week, we have today launched our Export Strategy - ‘Made in the …
Public sector funding for higher education in Scotland has reduced by 12% in real terms in seven years. In addition, despite the policy of free tuition for Scottish students, and a cap on Scottish student numbers, only 90% of the …
EU students paying international student rates can provide a new and potentially lucrative income stream for Scottish universities, though this new income stream may face the same risks posed to fees from international students. Although applications from EU students have …
Scottish universities are dependent on immigration decisions made at UK-level but have limited opportunities to influence those decision-making processes. Given that the UK and Scottish Governments both recognise the importance of reflecting Scottish interests in UK immigration policies, the UK …
Scottish universities are inherently international institutions; international collaborations play a big part in their successes. In addition, Scottish universities act as much-valued international hubs in their local communities, bringing important cultural benefits. Scottish universities’ internat
Universities Scotland have noted that a strong component of Scottish universities’ internationalisation strategy has been their drive to increase the number of international students: each year more than 58,000 international students from 180 countries (including from the EU) study in …
The Scottish Funding Council says it is clear that universities in Scotland “need” international students as a source of income in order to remain financially sustainable and to support other areas of their operation.103 Throughout our inquiry we have heard …
Rt Hon Alister Jack MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, also recognised the reliance of Scottish universities on international students: Scotland’s education sector should, in the first instance, exist to support Scottish and [rest of the UK] domiciled students and …
In early 2020 there were major fears that international students would stay away from UK universities due to the pandemic. In July 2020 there were forecasts that 12% to 61% of Chinese students (who make up the biggest single contingent …
The current picture regarding international student numbers looks much more encouraging than it did in mid-2020. UCAS data117 from 18 February 2021 shows that applications to Scottish universities for the next academic year by non-EU international students has—despite many expectations …
Although international students do not seem to be staying away from Scotland like many had feared, commenters have noted that the pandemic has demonstrated just how vulnerable the current model is.120 Richard Lochhead MSP told us that “it has been …
A further potential risk to international student numbers in Scotland is, as identified by the RSE Young Academy of Scotland, the impact of—and the perception abroad of— UK immigration policies. They view this risk as having already materialised, and give …
Universities UK has outlined the steps they believe the UK Government should take in order to help stabilise EU/European Economic Area (EEA) student demand. These include: • “Improving and extending the Study UK campaign into key markets in Europe by …
Each year more than 58,000 international students from 180 countries study in Scotland.167 In 2018, this made up about a quarter of the total student population.168 Professor Chris Pearce, University of Glasgow, told us that international students “enrich the diversity …
During our inquiry a number of witnesses, including Minister Lochhead, spoke to us about the importance to prospective international students of making sure that immigration policies—which are reserved to the UK Government—are as streamlined and as simple as possible.176 In …
Richard Lochhead MSP, Scottish Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, told us that: We do work with the UK Government, and the UK Government have been speaking to us. There will be lots more discussions because these are …
Scottish universities are dependent on immigration decisions made at UK-level but have limited opportunities to influence those decision-making processes. Given that the UK and Scottish Governments both recognise the importance of reflecting Scottish interests in UK immigration policies, the UK …
On 26 December 2020, two days after the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was reached, the UK Government announced a new scheme for students to study and work abroad that would “replace the UK’s participation in Erasmus+”.202 Along with the …
In the Government’s view the UK “could achieve the same benefits [as Erasmus+] with Turing”, but could also improve upon it by “looking at the global reach of it to widen participation”.226 Minister Stewart told us that it was about: …
In relation to the importance of inward, rather than just outward exchanges, Minister Stewart said, “I absolutely get the value of these exchanges in both directions”228 and: In terms of students coming here, what we are also working on—and Scottish …
Professor Nigel Seaton, Abertay University, told us that higher education is “fundamentally international”.324 Universities Scotland have also stated that “internationalisation is top of the agenda for Scottish universities”325 and, in July 2020, they published a report on the importance of …
In terms of ensuring that the UK remains an attractive place to work in for international academics, Iain Stewart MP, Minister for Scotland, highlighted to us that the Government is working on an International Education Strategy, headed up by Sir …
Scottish universities are inherently international institutions; international collaborations play a big part in their successes. In addition, Scottish universities act as much-valued international hubs in their local communities, bringing important cultural benefits. Scottish universities’ internat
In response to: International Education Strategy: global potential, global growth
Strategy setting out the government’s ambition for education exports and how it will support the UK education sector to access global opportunities.
In response to: International Education Strategy: 2021 update
Update to the 2019 International Education Strategy highlighting progress, government support to the UK education sector and future priorities.
This strategy sets out how the government will work in partnership with industry to promote UK security exports globally.
We're seeking views on proposed changes to the standards and inspection arrangements for the accreditation of British schools overseas.
We're seeking views on proposed changes to the standards and inspection arrangements for the accreditation of British schools overseas.
We're seeking views on proposed changes to the standards and inspection arrangements for the accreditation of British schools overseas.