Labour confirms no plans to lift international student visa restrictions

Anna Varela·15 August 2024·3 min read
Labour confirms no plans to lift international student visa restrictions

The Labour government has announced it will maintain the controversial visa restrictions on international students introduced by their Conservative predecessors, despite growing concerns from the higher education sector.

In a recent interview with Sky News, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed that the current administration has no intention of reversing the policy that prevents most overseas students from bringing family members to the UK.

When asked if the visa rules should be overturned, Phillipson stated plainly: “We don’t intend to change that.”

The restrictions, implemented in January, have already had a significant impact.

The Home Office reports an almost 80% reduction in the number of dependents accompanying international students to the UK, with over 26,000 fewer student visa applications made between January and March 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

Despite maintaining the controversial policy, Phillipson was quick to acknowledge the value of international students to the UK.

“In economic terms, into where it comes to the communities where they will come and live, Sunderland – where I’m a member of parliament – we have lots of students that come from around the world, often as postgraduate students, that study and make a contribution,” she said.

“But it’s also a big part of our reach around the world, the impact that we can have as a country, the business links, the trading links, the opportunities and the bridges that we build between nations.”

However, the government’s stance has met with resistance from the higher education sector.

Universities have reported a sharp decline in applications from international students since the introduction of the measures.

The recent review of the graduate visa route, which allows international students to work in the UK for two to three years after their studies, has further fuelled concerns about potential additional restrictions.

In response, university groups including BUILA and the Russell Group have written a joint letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

They warn that further restrictions could undermine the higher education sector, one of the country’s most successful export industries, and damage the UK’s reputation as a premier destination for international students.

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