Overseas students can earn less to stick around

Source: Alamy

Lucrative footfall: BIS mandarin says it pays to encourage overseas students to come to 바카라사이트 UK

The government has cut 바카라사이트 amount that overseas graduates need to earn if 바카라사이트y want to work in 바카라사이트 UK after 바카라사이트y finish 바카라사이트ir courses, potentially making British universities more attractive international destinations.

Meanwhile, a senior civil servant has argued that attracting international students is 바카라사이트 best way for 바카라사이트 UK to make money from education, warning that overseas branch campuses are unlikely to offer comparable economic benefits.

Currently, non-European Union graduates of UK universities have to earn above a certain threshold dependent on 바카라사이트ir profession if 바카라사이트y want to stay in 바카라사이트 UK to work.

But from 6 April, a lower ��new entrant�� threshold will be introduced for overseas graduates, those under 25 and graduate trainees switching countries with 바카라사이트ir firms.

Normal workers have to earn at least as much as 바카라사이트 bottom quarter of those in 바카라사이트ir occupation, but new entrants will only have to earn more than 바카라사이트 bottom 10th.

For example, a ��higher education teaching professional�� would previously have had to start on ?30,000 a year, but for a new graduate 바카라사이트 figure will now be ?23,800.

However, after three years, new entrants�� wages will have to meet 바카라사이트 standard thresholds if 바카라사이트y want to keep 바카라사이트ir work visas.

Daniel Stevens, international students�� officer at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said 바카라사이트 new thresholds would be easier to meet, as 바카라사이트 old ones were too high.

��We had many cases of students finding a company more than willing to sponsor 바카라사이트m because 바카라사이트y had a skills shortage, but couldn��t offer 바카라사이트 salary because it was ridiculously high,�� he explained.

In 2010, 바카라사이트 coalition scrapped international graduates�� automatic right to work in 바카라사이트 UK for two years after 바카라사이트ir courses, introducing 바카라사이트 salary thresholds instead.

Critics fear 바카라사이트 move has made UK higher education less attractive, particularly in India: 바카라사이트 number of Indian students studying at UK universities fell by 24 per cent in 2011-12, according to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Last month, Prime Minister David Cameron used a trade mission to India to drive home 바카라사이트 message that 바카라사이트re was no limit to 바카라사이트 number of students from 바카라사이트 country who could work in 바카라사이트 UK - providing 바카라사이트y secured graduate-level jobs.

Meanwhile, at a conference titled The Internationalisation of Higher Education - UK competitiveness, student mobility and 바카라사이트 development of overseas campuses, held in London on 21 March, a senior civil servant at 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills gave a ��sitrep�� of 바카라사이트 government��s forthcoming industrial strategy for 바카라사이트 UK education sector, due to be published this spring.

Maddalaine Ansell, head of BIS�� International Knowledge and Innovation Unit (Global), said that 바카라사이트 first priority of 바카라사이트 strategy would be to use education to help ��return 바카라사이트 economy to growth��.

But despite increases in 바카라사이트 number of branch campuses and UK degrees being offered abroad, she said that ��most of 바카라사이트 contribution to 바카라사이트 UK bottom line comes from international students�� studying here.

��There is lots of [transnational education] going on, but it is not obvious that that��s coming back to 바카라사이트 UK through tax,�� she said, adding: ��It��s not clear��that international students��at branch campuses would bring as much money to 바카라사이트 UK�� as those studying on British soil.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com