The UK government has doubled the number of global universities whose alumni are eligible for the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa, enabling a greater number of recent European and Australian graduates to work in the UK.

The HPI visa is one of several pathways available for international researchers and is open to individuals who have earned a degree from a highly ranked university outside the UK within the last five years.

The government recently announced plans to double the number of HPI visa holders from 2,000 to 4,000 next year. In its immigration white paper released in May, it committed to expanding the list of eligible universities for the scheme.

The updated list, published on 4 November, now includes 80 qualifying universities, up from 42 in 2024. Institutions must appear in the top 100 of at least two major global university rankings to be included.

US dominance weakens

Previously, the list was largely dominated by US universities, which accounted for 47.6% of eligible institutions in 2024. European universities represented just 16.7% of the list, equal to the share from China and Hong Kong.

While the US still holds the largest portion of universities on the newly expanded list at 41.3%, Europe’s representation has increased significantly, now making up 25% of qualifying institutions.

Belgium has made its debut on the list with KU Leuven, known for its strong innovation focus. The Netherlands has also joined the list for the first time, represented by three universities: the University of Amsterdam, the University of Groningen and Delft University of Technology. Meanwhile, both Sweden and France have increased their presence, each expanding from one to four institutions.

Australia

Australia’s presence has also grown significantly. In 2024, only the University of Melbourne qualified, but the 2025 list includes six Australian universities, among them Monash University, the Australian National University, and the universities of New South Wales, Queensland and Sydney.

Meanwhile, mainland China’s share has declined, making up 8.8% of institutions in 2025, down from 11.9% in 2024.

As in prior years, universities from the global south are not represented, reflecting their limited placement in major international rankings.