The number of Indians granted visa to study at UK universities has registered a 6 per cent increase for the first time since 2009.<br/><br/>According to latest UK government statistics, between July and September this year, 8,692 student visas, known as Tier 4 visas, were granted to Indian applicants, compared with 8,224 issued during the same period in 2015. <br/><br/>Sponsored visa applications from Indians to study in the UK increased by 5 per cent between 2015 and 2016 to 9,207, the largest number since 2013.<br/><br/>India is the third-largest category in terms of student visa applications after the US and China.<br/><br/>The latest visa figures come in the wake of reports that the UK Home Office was finalising plans to cut annual student visa figures by nearly half.