Passengers arrive with their luggage in Terminal 5 of London's Heathrow Airport on May 29, 2017 | Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images UK net migration falls by almost 25 percent post Brexit Drop mainly due to exodus of Eastern Europeans and dwindling number of international students.

Net migration to the U.K. fell to 246,000 in the year ending March 2017, down from 327,000 the year before, according a new report by the British Office for National Statistics (ONS) published Thursday.

The report stated that the decrease — amounting to 81,000 people — is largely due to EU citizens, particularly from Eastern Europe, leaving the U.K.

The number of international students coming to study in the U.K. also dropped to 139,000 — 27,000 fewer than last year — in a continued trend as the U.K. has tightened visa restrictions on non-EU students in recent years.

The results "indicate that the EU referendum result may be influencing people’s decision to migrate into and out of the U.K., particularly EU and EU8 citizens," said Nicola White, head of ONS international migration statistics.

Jonathan Portes, a senior fellow at think tank The UK in a Changing Europe, said in a statement: "Brexit is having a significant impact on migration flows, even before we have left the EU or any changes are made to law or policy.

"EU nationals, both those already here and those considering a move to the U.K., are understandably concerned about their future status in the U.K."

The pro-business Institute of Directors issued a statement saying the decrease in net migration "should not be celebrated."

The British Home Office also on Thursday announced the launch of a study to evaluate the social and economic impact of international students in the U.K.

"There is no limit to the number of genuine international students who can come to the U.K. to study," Home Secretary Amber Rudd said in the announcement.

The Conservative Party has long promised to bring net migration down to below 100,000 per year, but has struggled to do so since it came to power in 2010.

The EU has called on Britain during the Brexit negotiations — set to resume next week — to ensure the status of approximately 3 million EU citizens currently living in the U.K.

“Tory migration policy is a shambles," said Labour Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott. "Against all advice, Theresa May continues to insist in maintaining an arbitrary net migration target of under 100,000, which has never once been met."

Referring to the Home Office's assessment of the impact of international students, Abbott said: "Some in government appear to be waking up to the idea that overseas students make a valuable contribution to our country."