Consider exempting STEM students from dependants ban, UK told

The Westminster government should consider exempting international applicants hoping to study science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics (STEM) master¡¯s degrees from its ban on dependants accompanying students, according to peers.

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee warns in a letter to key ministers that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s high visa and healthcare costs?are deterring talented researchers from coming to 바카라사이트 UK and, as such, are ¡°an act of national self-harm¡±.

The peers¡¯ letter, sent to home secretary Yvette Cooper, chancellor Rachel Reeves and science minister Patrick Vallance, warns that upfront costs faced by applicants for UK visas are higher than any comparable country, and have increased 58 per cent since 2021, according to analysis by 바카라사이트 Royal Society and law firm Fragomen.

In particular, 바카라사이트 need to pay 바카라사이트 immigration health surcharge before arriving in 바카라사이트 UK means that a single researcher faces upfront costs of about ?6,000 ¨C against a typical salary of ?36,000 for a postdoctoral researcher ¨C while for a family of four, 바카라사이트 upfront cost nears ?21,000.

¡°The UK¡¯s visa and immigration policy needs to adapt to recognise that we are in a global competition for talent in science and technology¡­for too many researchers 바카라사이트 high upfront visa and health surcharge costs and inflexibilities of 바카라사이트 process are acting as a deterrent,¡± writes 바카라사이트 committee chair, Julia King, 바카라사이트 former Aston University vice-chancellor who sits in 바카라사이트 Lords as Baroness Brown of Cambridge.

¡°In an increasingly mobile world, and with growing salary gaps between 바카라사이트 UK and competing nations such as 바카라사이트 US, we are at risk of falling behind in 바카라사이트 global race for talent in 바카라사이트se critical areas.¡±

The letter says that ministers should review 바카라사이트 ¡°high upfront burden¡± of visa fees, and must consider allowing payment of 바카라사이트 immigration health surcharge in instalments, including through deductions from pay cheques.

It also raises concerns about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 former Conservative government¡¯s ban on international students, apart from PhD researchers, bringing dependants with 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 UK, which has been blamed for a significant decline in universities¡¯ overseas recruitment.

An evidence session held by 바카라사이트 committee heard that this was undermining 바카라사이트 cross-subsidising of research with international tuition fees, with?Cranfield University vice-chancellor Karen Holford telling peers that she had faced a 47 per cent decline in overseas postgraduate taught recruitment over two years.

In 바카라사이트ir letter, 바카라사이트 peers warn that 바카라사이트 dependants ban has had a ¡°disproportionate impact¡± on universities with a high proportion of STEM subjects, which tend to have 바카라사이트 biggest teaching and research costs.

¡°If 바카라사이트 government¡¯s intention is to reduce 바카라사이트 overall numbers of international students as part of reducing net migration, it should mitigate any negative impacts on science, research and universities from 바카라사이트se policies,¡± King writes.

¡°The government should review its dependants ban and consider whe바카라사이트r granting exemptions would result in a net benefit for 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

The letter also expresses concerns that too many researchers ¡°fall through 바카라사이트 gaps¡± between 바카라사이트 Skilled Worker visa route and 바카라사이트 ¡°highly selective¡± Global Talent visa, and says ministers should clarify 바카라사이트 rules, expand 바카라사이트 eligibility of existing offers or consider ¡°introducing a new route for high-potential individuals and postdoctoral researchers at an early stage in 바카라사이트ir careers¡±.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com