The
UK Immigration White Paper
is a very important announcement for universities and international
students. As a result the effects of the paper will impact the number of
students that apply for universities in the UK.
In the paper, the Labour government announces their plans to reduce the
length of time that graduates can remain in the UK from two years to 18
months (for those on courses below PhD level.)
What changes can be expected?
The
Times Higher Education
says that further details regarding the introduction of a levy will be
announced in the autumn budget. The levy would be placed upon higher
education provider income from international students and the paper says it
would be “reinvested into the higher education and skills system.”
The introduction of a new English language requirement can also be
expected. Level A1 (Basic User) will be asked of all “adult dependants” of
workers and students. The paper says the government “will work towards
increasing this requirement over time.”
For students, the required course enrolment rate will be raised from 90% to
95%, and course completion rate from 85% to 90%.
The future of the student visa system
The UK’s student visa system is said to be “undermined” according to the
paper. Similar to previous
allegations
that suggested students were claiming loans without the intention to pay
them back, the paper suggests that some students come to the UK to use
studying as an excuse to move to the UK. As shown in this quote from the
paper, “it is also essential that any individual that our country welcomes
here to study is genuinely here to do so and is not using their application
for a student visa simply as a vehicle to move themselves and their
dependants to a new life in Britain”.
The Times Higher Education says that the number of people receiving student
visas in 2019 rose from 269,000 to 498,000 in 2023. Of the number of asylum
claims for visa holders, 47% have been students.
“Low-skilled” workers
The government has stated that they are looking to enforce heavier
restrictions on what they call “low-skilled” workers. However, the paper
says it will go “further in ensuring that the very highly skilled have
opportunities to come to the UK and access our targeted routes for the
brightest and best global talent”.
