Immigration restrictions imposed on international students raising concern about potential economic repercussions with the number enrolling from overseas falling by a third.
U.K. university officials are raising concern about potential economic repercussions of the significant decline in international student enrollments following stricter immigration policies.
A survey conducted by Universities U.K. (UUK), an
organization of higher education institutions, of more than 60 U.K.
universities shows that the number of study visas issued in January this year
fell 33% compared to last year.
Another UUK survey of 73 universities found that enrollments
in postgraduate-taught courses declined by 44%.
It said this downturn Is attributed to doubts concerning the
continuation of the U.K.’s post-study work opportunities and the government’s
increasingly critical stance on the rise in numbers of international students
after the pandemic.
Data from Enroly, a digital platform supporting more than 60
U.K. universities in simplifying the processes of international admissions and
compliance, showed a 37% drop in the number of international offers for U.K.
postgraduate courses this January compared to last January.
At the same time, U.K. government statistics show sponsored
study visas for main applicants fell by 5% year-on-year in 2023.
Last year, the U.K. announced a plan to curb net migration
by preventing international students from bringing family members with them
while studying in the U.K., unless they are studying in postgraduate research
courses, such as research-based PhDs and research-based master’s programs.
International students in postgraduate courses that are not
designated as research-oriented are thus not permitted to bring dependents,
according to the new policy, which took effect in January.
The U.K. Home Office said in 2022 that almost half a million
student visas were issued while the number of dependents of overseas students
has increased by 750% since 2019, to 136,000 people.
The chief executive of UUK, Vivienne Stern, commented in a
report by the organization: "The U.K. is extremely fortunate to be a
popular destination for international students. The whole country benefits from
their decision to spend a few formative years with us. I regret the fact the
government appears to want to diminish our success in this area. Our new data
shows that if they wanted to see a reduction in numbers, they have already
achieved that through policy changes introduced earlier this year."
"If they go further, they will damage the economies of
towns and cities throughout the U.K., as well as many universities. Given we
should be doing everything we can to promote economic growth, this seems to be
getting the priorities wrong," she said.
Stern added: "The number of international students
coming to the U.K. is already falling, but there is now a real danger of an
over-correction."
According to the UUK, students were also being put off by
uncertainty over the U.K.’s post-study work offer, after the government
announced that its Migration Observatory Committee was reviewing the Graduate
Route to review whether international students should be entitled to stay in
the U.K. for at least two years after successfully completing a course.
The Graduate Route allows international students who have
been awarded their degree to stay in the U.K. and work, or look for work, at
any skill level, for two years, or three years for doctoral students. Graduates
do not need a sponsored employer to access this route.
David Pilsbury, Chief Development Officer at the Oxford
International Education Group, cautions that the decline in enrollment of
international students, who typically pay higher fees, will significantly
impact universities that focus on recruiting those students.
He told University World News: "For some recruiting
universities the January intake had become as big as they used to recruit in
September – so they will be really hurt by the sharp fall in numbers from key
markets like Nigeria and India this January.
"I know that a number of universities that didn’t hit
their September targets just added the difference to the January target. So
this is a serious hit for many U.K. universities," said Pilsbury.
According to the UKK, international students, who comprise
nearly half of all enrollees in taught programs at U.K. universities and
contribute an average of £17,000 (US$21,860) annually in tuition fees, play a
crucial role in the financial health of these institutions. A significant drop
in international enrollments could lead to economic challenges for numerous
courses and universities.
From 2019/20 to 2023/24, the Graduate Route program, along
with the support of the U.K.’s International Education Strategy (IES), directly
contributed to 632,000 additional international first-year enrollments and
provided a net economic contribution of £62.6 billion to the U.K. economy over
the duration of students’ programs, according to the ICEF Monitor.
Meanwhile, a report named "Under the spotlight: Changes
to immigration rules will harm U.K. innovation" published in January by
the National Center for Universities and Business, said international students
are shown to contribute and additional £41.9 billion to the U.K. economy,
largely within their local economies, and provide enriched experiences across
universities and local communities through increased diversity.
The Migration Observatory Committee said in its "Impact
of international students in the U.K." report released in September, 2018
that "international students bring an economic benefit to the U.K. and are
an important export market."
It cited the Department for Education as estimating their
export value at £17.6 billion in 2015.
UK is calling for political leaders to assure international
students of the U.K.'s welcoming stance and the permanence of the graduate visa
scheme, highlighting the adverse effects that any abrupt policy changes could
have on employment, economic expansion, and the higher education sector.
"We call on all political parties in the run up to a
general election to reassure prospective international students that the U.K.
remains open, and the Graduate visa here to stay. Any further knee-jerk reforms
could have serious consequences for jobs across the country, economic growth,
and UK higher education institutions," said UUK’s chief Stern.
Jeff Williams, Enroly’s chief executive, was quoted by the
Guardian as saying: "The downturn in January 2024 signals the impact of
U.K. policy on recruitment volumes, underscoring the industry’s sensitivity to
political and economic factors."
John Foster, the top official for policy and campaigns at
the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI), the leading business group in the
U.K., pointed out that the mere possibility of tighter work rights is already
affecting demand.
He told ICEF Monitor: "Uncertainty surrounding whether
the government will change or withdraw the graduate visa [is] already damaging
U.K. universities' competitiveness."
In fact, a study titled "The Voice of the International
Student," conducted in January by IDP Education across 67 countries with
2,500 student respondents, has already revealed that nearly half (49%) of
prospective students are reevaluating or uncertain about their plans to study
in the U.K.