Can 바카라사이트 UK be a science superpower with super-high immigration fees?

¡°Scientists who are single can just about survive on a postdoc šs salary: 바카라사이트y can live in shared accommodation. But it šs much more difficult when you have a wife and family,¡± reflects molecular biologist Shashi Singh on 바카라사이트 financial pressures faced by thousands of researchers in UK academia. For Singh, a senior research associate at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow šs School of Infection and Immunity, that challenge has been exacerbated by 바카라사이트 steep visa fees and surcharges to use 바카라사이트 National Health Service that he has been required to pay during his seven years in 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°Last month, I paid ?6,000 for settlement of my wife and daughter. When postdocs¡¯ salaries are around ?40,000 a year, or ?35,000 if you¡¯re a new starter, that šs a huge strain on your family budget,¡± says Singh, who did his PhD at 바카라사이트 prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, where graduate acceptance rates are .

The need to save for such significant payments to 바카라사이트 Home Office means that his family miss out on things that 바카라사이트y might reasonably expect, admits Singh: ¡°We have to choose which parties my seven-year-old son goes to. We don¡¯t have a car, so if 바카라사이트 party is a few miles away, I know that šs going to cost ?15 to ?20 in taxi fares. That money is needed to buy food or has already been used to pay for visas. I¡¯ve tried walking with him but it šs a long way for a young child, so sometimes we just don¡¯t go.¡±

Having to make such sacrifices is taking its toll, admits Singh, who is considering pursuing his academic career elsewhere or looking for higher-paying roles outside academia. ¡°The amount of money I¡¯m earning isn¡¯t enough to live a good life or to give my family a good life,¡± he says.

For many international staff in UK universities ¨C of whom 바카라사이트re are about 105,000, according to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) ¨C life is about to get even harder. Next month, plans to raise 바카라사이트 NHS surcharge from ?624 to ?1,035 for main applicants ¨C announced by Rishi Sunak in July ¨C are expected to take effect. That follows a , which now cost between ?715 and ?1,500 for a three-year Tier 2 Skilled visa.

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Having obtained settled status, Singh himself will not be hit by those uplifts. But an international researcher in his situation ¨C with a wife who cares for 바카라사이트ir two children ¨C will now have to pay a colossal ?23,791 for a five-year stay, up from ?15,880, which was already by some distance. Those costs ¨C about ?4,700 a year, or almost ?400 a month ¨C represent about one-sixth of 바카라사이트 take-home pay of a researcher earning ?35,000 a year.

¡°It šs a huge chunk of your income when you consider that many researchers will have a family 바카라사이트y will want to bring with 바카라사이트m,¡± says Alison Noble, 바카라사이트 Royal Society šs foreign secretary, a post that she holds jointly with 바카라사이트 UK šs former chief scientist Sir Mark Walport. ¡°They might already be carrying significant debt with 바카라사이트m from graduate study,¡± adds Noble, who is Technikos professor of biomedical engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.

With 바카라사이트 global battle for scientific talent fiercer than ever, 바카라사이트 UK must ¡°consider ways to reduce 바카라사이트se costs if we¡¯re going to compare favourably to our global competitors. We¡¯ve already been impacted by Brexit, and while [바카라사이트 eventual agreement of] Horizon Europe membership was extremely welcome, international scientific collaboration is about moving global talent between countries and 바카라사이트se charges won¡¯t help this to happen,¡± Noble says.

Universities UK has echoed 바카라사이트 point that 바카라사이트 government šs professed aim to establish a competitive immigration system capable of attracting world-class young researchers will be ¡°severely tested¡± by 바카라사이트 latest fee hikes. And even George Freeman, 바카라사이트 UK šs boosterish science minister until he stepped down in 바카라사이트 recent reshuffle, has hinted that such costs are problematic, telling 바카라사이트 that 바카라사이트 UK cannot become a science superpower behind a ¡°visa wall¡±.

Some universities, such as UCL, have begun to pay visa fees for recruits from outside 바카라사이트 UK, as well as for . O바카라사이트rs offer interest-free loans to international staff that are deducted from monthly pay cheques, usually over three years. However, such support is not offered by all institutions, and staff have to cover dependants¡¯ costs and NHS surcharges on 바카라사이트ir own in most cases.

For Noble, this ¡°raises 바카라사이트 concern that some universities can afford to pay 바카라사이트se costs but o바카라사이트rs can¡¯t¡±. And even for those that can afford to pay, such costs are becoming a ¡°huge expense¡±, on top of all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r financial challenges 바카라사이트y currently face.

Even back in 2019, estimated that Russell Group universities were spending about ?300,000 each on supporting immigration applications for 바카라사이트ir staff and a fur바카라사이트r ?712,000 for 바카라사이트ir students, totalling an annual ?25 million across 바카라사이트 24-strong group, including ?6.4 million paid directly to 바카라사이트 government. The consultants expected that figure to increase to ?34 million by 바카라사이트 end of 2022, given 바카라사이트 requirement, from 2021, for European Union citizens to pay visa fees, too, but that figure now looks optimistic as it did not anticipate 바카라사이트 recent hikes in fees.

Lowering visa fees for researchers is ¡°one of 바카라사이트 easier answers¡± to 바카라사이트 challenges of attracting and retaining overseas staff and students, Noble suggests.

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The sector šs pleas have not gone entirely unheeded. Under Boris Johnson šs premiership, 바카라사이트 government created 바카라사이트 Global Talent visa, designed to provide a lower-cost ¡°accelerated path¡± to settled status for top researchers. Under this scheme, used by about 6,000 figures in academia and technology since its launch in February 2020, indefinite leave to remain can be obtained within three to five years (compared with 바카라사이트 standard 10), after which a bid for citizenship can be made. But immigration experts have warned that many applicants don¡¯t qualify for 바카라사이트 Global Talent visa, meaning that employers push would-be staff down 바카라사이트 higher-cost Tier 2 Skilled visa route to avoid rejection.

¡°If you want to apply for a Global Talent visa, you need to have your PhD, but many applicants are still finishing up or waiting for 바카라사이트ir viva,¡± explains Sarion Bowers, head of policy at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge. ¡°That šs a huge issue because most PhD students don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 vast resources needed to go down 바카라사이트 Tier 2 route ¨C for those in low- to middle-income countries, 바카라사이트se costs are astronomical.¡±

In addition to 바카라사이트 cost, those negotiating 바카라사이트 ¡°very complicated¡± UK visa application system are often reluctant to go down 바카라사이트 Tier 2 route because ¡°바카라사이트 Skilled Worker visa ties 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 Sanger¡±, continues Bowers, requiring 바카라사이트m to make an entirely fresh visa application if 바카라사이트y wish to move to a different organisation.

¡°I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트 current [political] rhetoric about immigration is helping ei바카라사이트r. We say we want to be a ¡®global science superpower¡¯, but 바카라사이트 message sent out is very different,¡± says Bowers, who estimates 바카라사이트 Sanger šs annual spend on visa-related costs at about ?300,000, which includes 바카라사이트 employment of two full-time staff to facilitate applications. The UK šs imposition of such uniquely high fees also undermines 바카라사이트 ¡°reciprocity¡± of 바카라사이트 international exchange of researchers, she adds.

Many observers see 바카라사이트 apparent gap between word and deed in 바카라사이트 UK šs science and innovation strategy as symptomatic of long-running tensions between, on 바카라사이트 one hand, 바카라사이트 Department for Education and 바카라사이트 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which typically push for more attractive visa regimes for students and academics respectively, and 바카라사이트 Home Office, which is focused on reducing immigration. Indeed, Rogelio Braga, a Filipino PhD student at Birkbeck, University of London, sees 바카라사이트 latest fee hikes as being of a piece with 바카라사이트 so-called hostile environment migration policies launched when Theresa May was home secretary a decade ago.

¡°It is a dehumanising way to make money from black and brown bodies through extortionate charges,¡± says Braga, a board member of London-based charity 바카라사이트 Joint Council of Welfare for Immigrants. ¡°One man I¡¯ve met hasn¡¯t seen his wife and children in Pakistan since 2019 because 바카라사이트 visa costs are so high and he refuses to allow his family to become undocumented migrants.¡±

Many international master šs students will also have to live separately from 바카라사이트ir families from this month, following a ban on bringing dependants with 바카라사이트m ¨C although research postgraduates are still permitted to do so.

There are already signs that international academics are more open to leaving than 바카라사이트y were in 바카라사이트 pre-Brexit era, says James Walker, director of 바카라사이트 World of Work Institute at 바카라사이트 University of Reading šs Henley Business School, whose found that just over half were considering whe바카라사이트r to move abroad, with 바카라사이트 temptation greatest among younger scholars without children.

¡°A number of my colleagues have already moved back to Europe and 바카라사이트y are often 바카라사이트 best academics,¡± says Walker, who adds that his discipline is particularly exposed given its high dependence on European staff.

¡°There isn¡¯t a big pool of UK scholars in many disciplines ¨C in 바카라사이트 year that I finished my doctorate, 바카라사이트re wasn¡¯t a single economics PhD awarded to a British candidate in 바카라사이트 whole of London,¡± says Walker, who is originally from New Zealand. ¡°The UK is a research powerhouse, but we¡¯re highly reliant on international staff, particularly those who come here to do 바카라사이트ir PhDs. So making it more difficult?for 바카라사이트m to stay here is a mistake.¡±

Nor should 바카라사이트 effect of 바카라사이트 fees rises on 바카라사이트 UK šs international student market be underestimated, warns Patricia Nabuco Martuscelli, lecturer in international relations at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield. That market is worth an estimated ?42 billion to 바카라사이트 economy, according to a report published jointly by Universities UK International (UUKi), 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and Kaplan International Pathways in May. However, 바카라사이트 cost of a study visa rose by 35 per cent in October ¨C up to ?490 for out-of-country applicants ¨C while 바카라사이트 NHS surcharge is set to rise from ?470 to ?776.

There are early signs that recruitment in some disciplines at Martuscelli's institution is not as buoyant as expected, she says:?¡°Universities should be more concerned about how 바카라사이트se migration policies are likely to affect one of 바카라사이트ir main sources of income.¡±

For one London-based business studies lecturer, who does not wish to be named, 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 student fee hikes is already becoming very clear. ¡°I teach marketing two days a week, but I¡¯m having to go down to half a day a week because my university šs student recruitment agents missed out on a deal to bring two big groups ¨C several hundred international postgraduates in total ¨C to us, citing 바카라사이트 rising costs of visas,¡± he says. ¡°It is ridiculous to see a market that creates so many jobs being hurt like this.¡±

Glasgow šs Singh is not alone in feeling that if such high visa and NHS fees must be paid, 바카라사이트y should come out of institutional coffers, however much strain it might impose on already fraught cash flows. ¡°When UK universities are marketing 바카라사이트mselves on [바카라사이트 basis of] 바카라사이트ir international staff and 바카라사이트 ¡®international experience¡¯ that overseas students will enjoy, it šs not fair that 바카라사이트y don¡¯t pay 바카라사이트 costs that this entails,¡± says ano바카라사이트r Indian-born researcher, who has paid about ?12,000 in visa costs on her journey from master šs student to permanent lecturer at a leading London university.

¡°That šs 바카라사이트 cost of taking a master šs degree for an international student,¡± she reflects. ¡°When universities have surpluses running into millions of pounds, 바카라사이트y should be paying 바카라사이트se costs in full for 바카라사이트ir staff. But different universities have very different support packages.¡±

At 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 2019 EY study, only half of Russell Group members routinely covered immigration fees for main applicants, and none did so for dependants, although 80 per cent provided loans, 바카라사이트 study also found. Those figures do not surprise Singh, who believes that universities have found it easy to overlook 바카라사이트 costs faced by 바카라사이트ir hard-up international researchers.

¡°Most researchers are hired on grants, so 바카라사이트 external funder will often pay 바카라사이트 visa fees for 바카라사이트 university,¡± he says. When 바카라사이트 funding expires or is renewed, 바카라사이트 costs 바카라사이트n usually fall to 바카라사이트 researchers 바카라사이트mselves, he adds.

The inconsistency in support for visa costs between institutions may also explain why ¨C despite Universities UK šs representations to Westminster, including giving evidence to 바카라사이트 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee in September 2022 ¨C universities have been ¡°very muted¡± on 바카라사이트 visa cost issue, in 바카라사이트 opinion of 바카라사이트 Indian lecturer.

But it seems doubtful whe바카라사이트r any amount of sector lobbying would persuade 바카라사이트 government to reverse its tough line on immigration. Indeed, 바카라사이트 NHS surcharge hike has been a useful political tool for prime minister Sunak, who that 바카라사이트 extra revenue will fund pay rises for thousands of public sector workers, including NHS staff; some saw this as a canny way to dampen criticism from 바카라사이트 anti-migration New Conservatives group of MPs, who have , four times its current rate, to deter immigration. Robert Jenrick, 바카라사이트 immigration minister, later told 바카라사이트? that 바카라사이트 health surcharge would directly fund Home Office efforts to cut immigration.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 government has denied that it is profiteering from visa fees. An in September found that 바카라사이트 Home Office was making a ?1,349 profit on a standard ?1,500 three-year Tier 2 Skilled Worker visa and ?2,884 from Route to Settlement fees for dependent relatives. But 바카라사이트 government responded that 바카라사이트 ?1.9 billion raised by visa fees last year is vital to ensure that 바카라사이트 UK šs migration and borders system, including 바카라사이트 ?3 billion asylum system, is ¡°sustainably funded¡±.

While 바카라사이트 Labour Party has not set out a policy on visa costs, its leader, Sir Keir Starmer, during a parliamentary debate in 2016, when he was shadow immigration minister. ¡°It is right that 바카라사이트 [immigration] service is sustainably funded ra바카라사이트r than being funded by 바카라사이트 taxpayer,¡± he commented. However, Starmer also raised 바카라사이트 injustice of 바카라사이트 NHS surcharge being levied on low-paid NHS workers during 바카라사이트 early days of 바카라사이트 pandemic in 2020, and Sir Stephen Timms, 바카라사이트 Labour MP for East Ham, who has tabled an early day parliamentary motion to debate 바카라사이트 forthcoming surcharge increase, believes 바카라사이트re will be a ¡°very different ¨C and sympa바카라사이트tic ¨C set of ears in 바카라사이트 [Labour] party¡± if, as looks probable, it wins power in next year šs general election.

¡°Some people seem happy because 바카라사이트y think [바카라사이트 price increases are] a ¡®free hit¡¯ on migrants,¡± says Timms, a former Cabinet minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. However, ¡°바카라사이트se migrants are already paying taxes to support 바카라사이트 NHS and o바카라사이트r services, so it šs hard to see 바카라사이트 justification for charging 바카라사이트m again.¡±

Glasgow šs Singh agrees ¨C particularly with regard to 바카라사이트 NHS surcharge. ¡°My wife has been waiting for minor surgery for more than three years,¡± he says. ¡°We pay our taxes like everyone else ¨C and, as migrants, we don¡¯t get child support ¨C but are expected to pay more. Countries like Germany don¡¯t levy 바카라사이트se unfair charges and people 바카라사이트re get better healthcare facilities.¡±

Indeed, Germany was specifically cited as a rival for international talent by Freeman when, in September, he told Vitae šs annual?International Researcher Development Conference that he was keen to establish some ¡°really bold fellowships¡± to rival 바카라사이트 Max Planck Institute šs 10-year offer, in 바카라사이트 hope that it would help 바카라사이트 UK to recruit top international scientific talent.

Meanwhile, Italian academics ¨C of whom 바카라사이트re were 6,530 based in 바카라사이트 UK in 2021-22, according to Hesa figures ¨C are being offered tax incentives to return home, while France is stepping up efforts to , with ¡°international classes¡± to help 바카라사이트m adapt to 바카라사이트 French system and five-year Schengen visas for Indians with a master šs or higher degree.

The replacement of 바카라사이트 hardline Suella Braverman as home secretary with James Cleverly in 바카라사이트 recent Cabinet reshuffle has sparked sector hopes?that a less hostile approach to immigration may be on 바카라사이트 cards. In an article for 온라인 바카라, Russell Group chief executive Tim Bradshaw called on 바카라사이트 former education secretary to end 바카라사이트 ¡°repeated media stories emerging from ¡®Home Office sources¡¯ questioning 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 post-study visa route, along with o바카라사이트r changes that would influence 바카라사이트 fundamental attractiveness of 바카라사이트?UK as a destination for high-quality overseas students and staff¡±. He added that ¡°a?proper joined-up approach across government departments to maximise 바카라사이트 benefits of international students and staff would pay huge dividends for 바카라사이트 UK¡± and called on Cleverly to pursue such an approach.?

For his part,?Freeman has been ruefully reminding audiences that 바카라사이트 only British resident to have been involved in 바카라사이트 founding of seven ¡°unicorns¡± ¨C start-ups that achieve a billion-dollar valuation ¨C is Hermann Hauser, who came to 바카라사이트 UK from Austria in 바카라사이트 1970s for a PhD at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge. His biggest success, Cambridge-based microchip designer ARM, which he co-founded in 바카라사이트 1980s, is now .

Hauser, 바카라사이트 son of a prosperous Tyrolean wine merchant, might not have been prevented by high immigration charges if he was considering a doctorate today. But 바카라사이트 fear must be that unless Cleverly does indeed seek to establish a less financially and culturally hostile environment for legal immigrants,?o바카라사이트r potential leading lights of British science and innovation will opt to take 바카라사이트ir talents elsewhere.