On January 20, 2026, the UK government launched its new International Education Strategy (IES). This strategy, part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, aims to support the nation’s path to renewal by “increasing exports, supporting skilled employment, and broadening access to high-quality education provision.” It outlines how the UK’s education sector and federal government will work together, and highlights specific government priorities.

The IES is co-owned by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, the Department of Education, and the Department for Business and Trade, with support from many other departments. Read on for a closer look at the strategy’s goals and how it will support international students in 2026 and beyond.

What are the Goals of the International Education Strategy?

The IES has three key ambitions. The first of these is to increase the UK’s international standing through education at every level of study. This goal involves:

• Increasing opportunities for international research collaboration
• Boosting government leadership in transnational education (TNE)
• Improving global recognition of UK-based academic qualifications
• Expanding the number of study, work, and volunteer opportunities abroad for youth in the UK

The next ambition revolves around the sustainable recruitment of high-quality international students from diverse countries. The IES refers to international students as “global changemakers,” highlighting their ability to become future leaders in the UK and around the world. Ensuring international students are recruited responsibly and have a positive experience while studying in the UK are both central to this goal.

The third goal aims to expand the education sector’s productivity. By 2030, the IES aims to grow the value of UK education exports from £32.3 billion per year (in 2022, the most recent data) to £40 billion per year. The International Education Champion (Professor Sir Steve Smith) will drive education export growth through things like partnerships in focus countries like India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. Emerging opportunities in countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Pakistan were also noted. To support this growth, UK-based education providers would receive access to financial instruments and practical support from the government.

The IES also highlighted the growth of transnational education (TNE) as a driver for education exports. Over the past decade, the UK’s higher education TNE headcount of in-person learners has grown by 87%, and in the 2023/24 academic year, UK universities offered degrees in 176 countries and territories through in-person TNE. This flexible education model includes overseas campuses, online courses, and joint programmes. As TNE grows, a more diverse range of students will be able to access a UK education.

How Will the IES Affect International Students in the UK?

Like the 2025 White Paper, the IES doesn’t directly change or update any laws or government guidance related to immigration. 

However, the IES does refer to upcoming changes like the international student levy. This levy will initiate in August 2028 (the start of the 2028/29 academic year), and is a £925 yearly fee which will be charged to higher education providers in England for each international student enrolled at their institution. While institutions, not students, pay this fee, some English institutions may increase international tuition in parallel. Note that this future levy does not apply to institutions in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 

The IES’ overall focus on sustainable recruitment levels, student quality and graduate outcomes, and increased student population diversity speak to the government’s aim to ensure students from around the world are able and prepared to study in the UK. This includes a dedicated drive to enhance global mobility both for its domestic and international students. The IES refers to a return to Erasmus+ in 2027, which is the EU’s flagship education exchange and partnerships programme. As such, international student interest from the EU is likely to increase in the years ahead. 

The strategy also reinforced support of the Turing Scheme and the US-UK Fulbright Programme. It also supports the continuation of prestigious scholarships like the Chevening, Commonwealth, and Marshall scholarship programmes.

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Looking Forward

Supporting international students throughout their study journey is also central to the IES. Through the Education Sector Action Group, the government will work with the higher education sector to ensure support systems are strengthened, campus infrastructure is adequate, and students have better access to local housing.

Prospective international students should consider the UK’s International Education Strategy more like a map than a list of instructions. Its launch illustrates government priorities and initiatives, but does not independently put any of these suggestions or changes into law.

Thinking about studying in the UK? Find a course that matches your academic goals on the ApplyBoard platform.