MRes enrolment in the UK continues to increase despite government warnings

Several universities have continued to increase enrolment figures to their Master of Research (MRes) courses, despite warnings of potential further crackdowns on MRes student enrolment.  

MRes programmes have been expanded to accommodate a much larger number of students, prompting concerns on their quality.  

Continued increases in university student enrolment has caused concern that the sector may face government crackdowns. Warnings have already been issued by the government, who suggested that many universities may be exploiting a loophole in visa regulations to attract international students and their families. 

Data published by Times Higher Education has revealed unprecedented increases in MRes enrolment numbers. The University of Greater Manchester saw an explosion in MRes student numbers, from 24 students in 2021/22 to 1,748 in 2025/26. 

Universities that exhibited significant enrolment increases include the University of Worcester, the University of East Anglia, the University of Lincoln, and Brunel University of London

Similarly, York St John University expanded from a single MRes student in 2023/24 to 387 in 2025-26.  

Other universities that exhibited significant enrolment increases include the University of Worcester, the University of East Anglia, the University of Lincoln, and Brunel University of London. 

Figures released by the government in May 2025 also noted dramatic increases in asylum claims for students studying in the UK on a student visa, as well as increased number of dependants accompanying students – from 16,000 in 2019 to 143,000 in 2023. 

The government drew the conclusion that “some people might therefore be using the student route to make claims for humanitarian protection when circumstances in their country have not changed” and that they would “raise standards and compliance to prevent visa misuse and strengthen the requirements to work and contribute for those graduates who stay on after their courses have been completed”. 

Despite these warnings, MRes enrolments figures continue to increase. This is speculated to be due to increased financial pressure on the higher education sector, as well as increased demand for MRes courses from international students over the past two years. 

This increased demand coincided with immigration rules published in May 2023 that “restrict[ed] the ability for international students to bring family members on all but post-graduate research routes”.