Policy paper - 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.

From: Department for Business and Trade, Department for Education and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Published 20 January 2026

Last updated 20 March 2026 — See all updates

Documents

The UK's International Education Strategy

PDF, 3.29 MB, 54 pages

Details

This strategy sets out the government's plans to place the UK's world-class education system, from early years to schools, colleges and higher education, at the heart of the UK's global engagement. It recognises that partnerships are critical to this mission and sets out our ambitions to:

• increase the UK's international standing through education and make UK the global partner of choice at every stage of learning

• sustainably recruit high-quality international higher education students from a diverse range of countries

• collectively grow education exports to £40 billion per year by 2030

The strategy is a joint commitment across government, developed in close collaboration with the education sector across the UK and the devolved governments. It is co-owned by the Department for Education, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

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