ELT industry facts and figures 

We provide trusted data and research on the UK English language teaching (ELT) sector, helping members, partners and policymakers understand student trends, economic impact and sector challenges.

• Who comes to study English in the UK?

• What is the value of ELT to the UK economy?

• How many students studied English in the UK before the pandemic and the end of freedom of movement?

Who comes to study English in the UK?

Our student statistics reports, produced with our insight partner Bonard, provide detailed information about students who come to study English in the UK at our members' centres.

Our 2026 Student Statistics Report contains the latest annual data, analysing students who studied English in the UK in 2025.

The report shows that in 2025:

• 327,883 students studied English language courses at our 287 member centres

• of the 327,883 students, 313,954 were on full-time courses and 13,929 studied part-time 

• people travelled from over 100 countries to learn or improve their English in the UK

• our member centres taught just under one million student weeks (998,044 full-time student weeks and 41,576 part-time)

• 62% of students were young learners, and their average stay decreased slightly to 1.7 weeks

• adults dominated in student week volume (at 67%), as they stayed for an average of 5.6  weeks

• the top 20 source markets accounted for 85% of all student numbers and delivered 86% of student weeks

• Italy remained the largest source market, while Türkiye showed notable growth, and China recorded the largest decline

• there were stark trading differences between individual member centres; 32% recorded year-on-year growth in their student weeks, while 64% experienced a decline.

Read the reports:

> English UK 2026 Student Statistics Report (executive summary)
> English UK 2026 Student Statistics Report (full edition)    [login required]

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What is the value of ELT to the UK economy?

2025 economic impact report

• Over the past 10 years, real value added per student has grown by 15%, partly due to a "significant" increase in their average spending. 

• Every part of the UK benefited, as ELT students attended universities, colleges, private language centres and boarding schools in every region and all four nations. 

• Teaching English was a significant part of the economy in some local authority areas, such as Bournemouth, Camden and Brighton. 

• The sector's contribution to the UK's soft power and wider global influence is substantial. 

Read the report:

VisitBritain's research

In September 2020, VisitBritain published a report on inbound visitors who take English-language courses. Their research found that in 2018:

• 614,000 visitors – 1.5% of the total number of visitors - took an English language course during their stay

• English language students accounted for 3.5% of visitor spend

• Over 2 in 5 visitors coming to the UK to study take an English language course

• English language students stayed three times longer than average visitors, spending over twice as much as other travellers

• The report concluded, 'This group is a key target for UK tourism due to the value of their visits, the opportunity to encourage repeat visits to the UK for young travellers and the English language training industry's contribution to the UK economy.'

Read the report:

> VisitBritain's report: Inbound visitors who take an English language course (2020)

If you are an English UK member, visit our member campaigning resources page for more useful facts and to download our campaigning toolkit. 

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