The UK Home Office’s white paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published this week, signals another tightening of the immigration regime.
The paper acknowledges the economic and societal value of international students, stating a desire to attract “the best young minds.” Yet the proposed changes tell a different story.
Stricter standards for sponsors, such as raising enrolment and completion thresholds to 95% and 90% respectively, and compulsory registration on the Agent Quality Framework, will add administrative pressure. (Although schools are not mentioned in the paper explicitly, the BSA has received confirmation that the changes apply to sponsor schools, not just universities.)
Meanwhile, a potential higher education international student levy and a reduced post-study work period for graduates risk threatening the UK’s long-standing reputation as a welcoming and world-class education destination. This could have a knock-on effect on boarding schools, which act as a pipeline for top UK universities.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) made some excellent points in their independent analysis, including “government should consider the total impact of a policy change, rather than simply its effect on net migration,” adding “what would be the effect on university finances? Migration policy does not act in isolation.”
BSA director David Walker FTIOB said, “International students are a vital part of BSA school communities and it would be a shame to see that change. We encourage international families to continue to consider the UK as a study destination: we are safe, modern, and vibrant with hundreds of years of heritage, and we’d love to welcome you.”
Register for BSA’s visa and immigration conference, being held on May 20, here.
Categories: Sector News
