Postgraduate Research UK Update as of April 2025

Our unique Pulse trackers and Share of Search data provide insights on thousands of prospective students interested in UK PhD opportunities. As of April 2025, we’re seeing that:

• Autumn 2025 continues to be the most popular entry point for all audiences, but around a third are now considering doctoral study in 2026.
  
  
• EU interest has grown significantly and almost returned to 2024 levels: perhaps reflecting the stability of UK international education policy in comparison to shifts in other major destinations.
  
  
• Brazil is by far the fastest-growing audience for UK PhD opportunities when measured as the UK’s Share of Search compared to other international destinations; growth elsewhere typically comes from parts of Europe and Africa.
  
  
• Our Spotlight this month uses historical Pulse data to map the recruitment pipeline for UK Masters, identifying when particular audiences are most likely to seek courses with specific entry points - a topic we’ve explored further on the blog.