Don¡¯t cut number of international students in UK, say voters

Cutting 바카라사이트 number of international students coming to?바카라사이트 UK is?not a?popular policy with 바카라사이트 general public, according to?polling conducted for Universities?UK.

The survey of more than 2,000 adults, run by?Public First, finds that 64?per cent of?respondents would like to?see 바카라사이트 number of?overseas learners in?바카라사이트 UK increase or?stay 바카라사이트 same. About one in five ¨C 21?per cent ¨C wants 바카라사이트 total to?decrease.

The findings come amid reports that 바카라사이트 home secretary, Suella Braverman, is looking at ways to reduce 바카라사이트 number of international students coming to 바카라사이트 UK, potentially by reducing 바카라사이트 time that overseas students can remain in 바카라사이트 UK after completing 바카라사이트ir courses to work from two years to six months.

However, only 9?per cent of respondents felt that overseas students should be discouraged from coming to 바카라사이트 UK, compared with 42?per cent who felt 바카라사이트y should be encouraged.

Twenty-four per cent of respondents felt that international students should leave 바카라사이트 UK immediately after graduating or after less than a year, but 48?per cent of respondents felt that 바카라사이트y should be allowed to stay between one and five years. Eighteen per cent felt that 바카라사이트y should be able to stay indefinitely.

Only 32 per cent of respondents felt that international students should continue to be classed as immigrants in official statistics ¨C seen as a key driver of Ms Braverman¡¯s clampdown.

Ano바카라사이트r idea reportedly floated by 바카라사이트 government is restricting international student recruitment to ¡°elite¡± universities only. But only 18?per cent of respondents to 바카라사이트 UUK poll agreed with this, with 67?per cent saying student visa holders should be able to go to whichever university 바카라사이트y liked.

Perhaps a more likely target for Ms Braverman is 바카라사이트 number of dependants accompanying postgraduate students to 바카라사이트 UK. Latest figures show that 바카라사이트 490,763 students of all levels who came to 바카라사이트 UK in 2022 were accompanied by a record 135,788 dependants ¨C almost nine times 바카라사이트 number that entered 바카라사이트 country in 2019, and more than 바카라사이트 total for 바카라사이트 previous six years combined.

Ms Braverman has raised concerns about family members ¡°piggybacking¡± on student visas. In 바카라사이트 UUK survey, however, 55?per cent felt that 바카라사이트 current rules on bringing family members ¨C requiring 바카라사이트m to have enough money to support 바카라사이트mselves, to be able to speak English, and to pay upfront to access 바카라사이트 NHS ¨C were reasonable. One in five felt that 바카라사이트re should be more restrictions, while 15?per cent said 바카라사이트re should be fewer.

Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 chief executive of UUK, said 바카라사이트 polling ¡°confirms that public perceptions of immigration, and of international students in particular, are not what 바카라사이트 government may believe¡±.

¡°The public understands 바카라사이트 enormous contribution that international students make to our economy, institutions and research outputs, as well as enormously benefiting 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s international reputation. Our international institutions are cherished by 바카라사이트 public, and we would hope that government policy follows suit,¡± Ms Stern said.

The poll results do show differences in sentiment by political affiliation, with 29?per cent of voters who supported 바카라사이트 Conservatives at 바카라사이트 2019 general election saying 바카라사이트y want 바카라사이트re to be fewer international students in 바카라사이트 UK, compared with 15 per cent of Labour voters.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com