UK ELT shows solid recovery in Q1 2024

The latest figures on the UK's ELT source markets from our QUIC cohort show recovery in Q1 2024 was solid. The cohort's total student week volume reached 81% of Q1 2019 levels, which is better than in Q4 2023.  

Some source markets sent higher numbers than in 2019 (and China is on the up)

The results reveal that over a third of all individual source countries sent higher volumes than in Q1 2019, indicating short-term growth potential across several of the UK's source markets. 

As observed in previous quarters, more traditional source markets dominated the top rankings. China saw the most significant year-on-year growth, moving from 16th place last year to 11th place. We expect China's performance to improve each quarter this year. 

Q1 2024 at a glance

In Q1 of 2024:

• teaching occurred at 113 premises* (5% more than in Q1 2023)
• members collectively taught 127,576 student weeks (87% adult and 13% junior)
• junior student weeks were up 3% compared to Q1 2023
• adult student weeks were down 15% compared to Q1 2023 
• adults recovered around 81% of their 2019 (pre-pandemic) student week volume, and juniors 80%
• the proportion of commissionable weeks was 74%, which is similar to pre-pandemic figures
• 80% of bookings were from individuals, and 20% were groups - a stable proportion for several years
• the top 10 source markets represented 66% of all student weeks
• the top 5 adult source markets were Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Turkey, Kuwait and South Korea
• the top 5 junior source markets were Italy, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and Peru 

*The 126 QUIC members are cumulatively advertising 239 locations as being open at some point during 2024.

(n = 126 members)

>> Download the Q4 2023 executive summary

The full version of the report and other outputs are only available to QUIC participants.

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