The number of Indians granted visa to study at UK universities has registered a 6 per cent increase for the first time since 2009.
According to latest UK government statistics, between July and September this year, 8,692 student visas, known as Tier 4 visas, were granted to Indian applicants, compared with 8,224 issued during the same period in 2015.
Sponsored visa applications from Indians to study in the UK increased by 5 per cent between 2015 and 2016 to 9,207, the largest number since 2013.
India is the third-largest category in terms of student visa applications after the US and China.
The latest visa figures come in the wake of reports that the UK Home Office was finalising plans to cut annual student visa figures by nearly half.