A new report has claimed that international students are increasingly using university education as a pathway to long-term residency in the UK.
The report, published by the centre-right think tank Policy Exchange, argues that the graduate visa scheme should be scrapped for all but postgraduate research students. It describes the current system as flawed, suggesting that student visas are being exploited as a route to extended migration.
The graduate visa currently allows international students to remain in the UK for up to two years after completing their studies. In May, the Labour government announced plans to cut this period to 18 months as part of efforts to curb net migration.
Earlier in January 2024, new rules introduced by the former Conservative government barred most international students from bringing dependants, except those enrolled in postgraduate research programmes or receiving government-funded scholarships.
However, Policy Exchange insists these measures are still too lenient and calls for more decisive reforms to prevent what it describes as the use of education as a “migration backdoor.”
The paper said: “Most fundamentally, the purpose of student migration should be to study, not to provide a backdoor route to longer term migration or settlement.
“Yet increasingly studying in the UK has become a pathway for widespread and sustained immigration.”
The number of international students in the UK increased by 66% between 2014/15 and 2023/24, the report suggested.
Two in five (40%) of those who arrived on student visas transferred to a different visa type within one year in 2023 – up from just 3% in 2019, according to the paper.
Zachary Marsh, research fellow in education at Policy Exchange and author of the report, said: “UK universities must return to the business of selling education, not immigration.
“Whilst international students can provide valuable economic benefits, the current system drives migration by those who have no interest in study but instead see the student and graduate visa as an open door to working in the UK.
“The Government and universities must go further to clamp down on those gaming the system.
“A more muscular approach is needed to restore public confidence that international students are good for our universities and wider economy and society.”
The report has also suggested that overseas students “may be crowding out UK students” at some universities.
Shadow education minister Neil O’Brien is due to address a Policy Exchange event in London on Wednesday on higher education and migration to coincide with the launch of the think tank’s report.
Mr O’Brien is expected to say: “It’s not just taxpayers who are losing out.
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“The current system isn’t working for too many students, who are promised great things but find themselves having to pay back huge sums on very low wages.
“Too many students are being ripped off and we have to ask whether there are better uses of taxpayers’ money that will leave young people better off.”
Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, a group of 24 research-intensive universities, said: “In an increasingly competitive global market, the UK needs to maintain an attractive offer for international students.
“This includes the graduate visa route, which allows international graduates to remain in the UK to work and contribute to the economy for a period after their studies.
“We know that international student recruitment, like any immigration policy, needs to be robust and fair to maintain people’s trust in the system.
“Our universities are committed to working with Government to eliminate any abuse of the system and ensure places go to those who are here to study and meet the standards needed to succeed on their course.”
