University representatives are calling for a consistent approach from the Westminster government towards international students, with the graduate route visa apparently remaining at risk.
Ministers are expected to produce a plan for immigration in the coming months that could include changes to the UK’s post-study work visa, which currently allows international graduates to stay and work in the country for two years.
The graduate route was thought to be partly responsible for the surge in international student recruitment that followed its introduction in 2021, although this has since been punctured by the ban on most learners bringing dependants with them to the UK.
University representatives have decried leaked plans that would restrict the number of graduates eligible to stay in the country under the visa by imposing minimum salary thresholds or similar conditions.
Now, as a report from the Financial Times suggests the Department for Education (DfE) was pushing back on these proposals, there are renewed calls for “stability” from government.
“The last thing anyone needs in this moment is a self-inflicted wound, which is precisely what tampering with the graduate route would amount to,” said Alex Proudfoot, chief executive of Independent Higher Education.
“The UK government should be doing everything it can right now to project an aura of calm, stability and the rational pursuit of our national self-interest, which absolutely includes maintaining our market share of international students.”
Whether this will happen, however, is in question. Diana Beech, director of the Finsbury Institute at City St George’s, University of London, believed the weeks ahead may be “crunch time” for the future of UK international education. As well as the immigration blueprint, a refreshed international education strategy is expected imminently.
“Despite HM Treasury clearly going for growth, the substantial economic gains brought to the UK by overseas students might not be enough to shield the UK’s international education exports from further regressive changes to student visa conditions,” Beech said.
“This is because the Home Office is also seeking to prove it can achieve its mission to reduce immigration and, with last year’s ban on dependants’ visas and increases to visa fees proving so successful at lowering numbers, further restrictions remain ripe for the picking.”
A government spokesperson denied any rift between the Home Office and the DfE, saying the two departments were “working closely to take an evidence-based approach, linking migration policy to education and skills, so immigration is no longer used at the expense of home-grown talent”.
“We will always welcome international students as a key part of our world-class higher education system,” the spokesperson added.
Beech predicted that home secretary Yvette Cooper was likely to pursue “quick wins”. This may “have the backing of political strategists in Labour HQ seeking to gain ground on the growing popularity of Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration Reform UK party, particularly in the lead-up to England’s local and mayoral elections”, she said.
For universities already damaged financially by the ban on most dependant visas that came into force under the previous government, protecting the graduate visa is paramount.
“Any signals from government that draw into question the future of this route, or indicate restrictions, are likely to put prospective students off applying to the UK,” said Hollie Chandler, director of policy at the Russell Group.
She said this would have “significant financial consequences” for the sector. It comes as multiple universities announce large-scale job cuts to cope with budget deficits, with falling international student numbers adding to their financial woes.
