Q1 stats highlight sector resilience with stronger junior performance and record QUIC participation

The latest data from QUIC, our quarterly statistics initiative, reveal that UK English language teaching (ELT) student weeks in Q1 2025 reached 71% of Q1 2019 levels. While this is down slightly on Q1 2024, the figures align with the recovery pace seen in Q4 2024.

Record member participation levels

QUIC tracks market dynamics and seasonal trends in the UK ELT sector, offering quarterly data-driven insights to support strategic planning. 

This voluntary statistics scheme continues to grow in importance. 126 member centres are participating in the 2025 cohort, representing 41% of English UK's membership. These centres accounted for 59% of all student weeks delivered in 2024, underscoring QUIC's growing value to the sector.

Differences in age segment performance

In the UK, Q1 is traditionally dominated by adult learners and this year was no exception. 87% of student weeks were attributed to adults and 13% to juniors, a ratio consistent with previous years.

However, when comparing year-on-year, performance varied by age group. The junior segment was more resilient. Compared with Q1 2024, like-for-like adult student weeks fell by 13%, but juniors fell by just 5%. Notably, junior programmes recovered to 85% of Q1 2019 levels, outpacing adults, who recovered to 69%.

The UK's Q1 2025 winners and losers

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Italy, Brazil, and Japan were the top five sending markets, with the top ten markets responsible for 69% of all student weeks. This highlights the sector's continued reliance on a relatively small group of key source countries during the first quarter.

Performance varied significantly by age group and source market. Saudi Arabia remained the largest market, contributing 18% of all student weeks, despite a drop of 3,792 weeks year-on-year (YoY).

Türkiye showed the most significant YoY growth (up 2,578 student weeks), securing its spot as the second-largest source market.

Italy grew for the second consecutive quarter, with gains in both the adult and junior segments, although its total volume remains well below pre-pandemic levels.

Impact of Colombia's changed visa status

In late November 2024, the UK government removed visa-free entry for Colombian students, and this early evidence suggests the changes have had a swift and significant effect on market performance. Adult student weeks from Colombia dropped by nearly a third (-1,104) compared to Q1 2024.

Q1 2025 at a glance 

The overall data shows:

• 119 teaching premises were open*, up 5% vs Q1 2024

• they taught 116.4k student weeks: 87% adult and 13% junior

• the top 10 markets sent 69% of all student weeks, up 3% vs Q1 2024

• top 5 adult source markets: Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Brazil, Kuwait, and Japan

• top 5 junior source markets: Italy, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and Peru

• adult student weeks down 13% and juniors 5% compared to Q1 2024

• juniors recovered to 85% and adults to 69% of Q1 2019 student week levels 

• 76% booked via agencies, slightly higher than in previous Q1s

• proportion of individual bookings has declined slightly in recent years

> Download the Q1 2025 executive summary

The full data sets and detailed report are only available to QUIC participants.

Further reading

> Find out more about the QUIC statistics scheme
> More facts and figures on UK ELT