The number of higher paying international students applying for undergraduate degrees at Welsh universities has fallen again. UCAS data shows 11,660 international applicants applied by the June deadline, down from 11,920 in 2025, 12,550 in 2024, and 12,270 in 2023.
Financial pressures mount
The decline in this income stream comes as Welsh universities face a £97m financial blackhole and further job cuts. University bosses blame falling overseas student numbers and static home tuition fees. Hundreds of jobs have been shed, degree courses cut, and departments closed in recent years.
Some universities have opened campuses abroad to attract international students. Cardiff University has a campus in Kazakhstan, while Swansea University has branches in London and other English cities.
Overall applications rise slightly
Despite the drop in international applicants, total undergraduate applications to Welsh universities rose slightly by the June 30 deadline. UCAS data shows 116,590 applications from 80,650 applicants, compared to 80,020 in 2025.
Fewer 18-year-olds from Wales are applying to university. By the June deadline, 4,430 (32.8%) had applied, well below England's 42.1%, Northern Ireland's 49.1%, and Scotland's 35.2%. Overall applications from Welsh residents rose to 17,140, up from 16,400 in 2025.
Operating deficits and job cuts
Welsh universities are more than £97m in operating deficit, up from £77m in 2023-24. Medr, the Welsh Government regulator, warned that continual cost-cutting "is not sustainable" but said no university is at imminent risk of failure.
University operating deficits for 2024-25 include Swansea (-£39.9m), Cardiff (-£33.4m), Bangor (-£18.3m), Cardiff Met (-£3.8m), and Aberystwyth (-£2.4m). Universities in surplus are UWTSD (+£2.8m), USW (+£2.4m), and Wrexham (+£603,000, but forecasting a £2.8m deficit for 2025-26).
Cardiff University's deficit partly reflects costs of staff-cutting. It agreed to no compulsory redundancies for 2026 after 170 full-time posts went in 2025. Swansea, which cut 400 jobs, opened a voluntary severance scheme in December 2025. Bangor cut 200 jobs to save £15m. USW announced 200 redundancies, with staff threatening strike action.
UK-wide trends
Across the UK, undergraduate applications hit a record 695,740, up 4.6% from 665,070. International applicants rose 7.1% to 148,350, with strong growth from China. Late applications may come through Clearing after A-level results on August 13.
