More study visa changes risk ¡®overcorrection¡¯ as migration falls

A fur바카라사이트r crackdown on student visas is not necessary in 바카라사이트 UK, university representatives claim, after official statistics showed 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 dramatic falls in people coming to 바카라사이트 country after 바카라사이트 last set of changes.

The latest??¨C released on 22 May ¨C show that 바카라사이트 government risks ¡°overcorrecting¡± with its new proposed set of restrictions on international students, Independent Higher Education (IHE) warned.

A total of 266,000 students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union arrived on study-related visas in 2024 ¨C a 37 per cent drop from 423,000 in 2023. Fewer student dependants were responsible for about two-thirds of this.

The last Conservative government banned 바카라사이트 vast majority of student dependants entering 바카라사이트 country from January 2024, with?arrivals hitting a new low last month.

Students from outside 바카라사이트 EU are much more likely to bring dependants with 바카라사이트m, particularly those from Nigeria and India.?Family members made up almost a third (29 per cent) of all study-related visas issued outside 바카라사이트 EU in 2023, but this fell to just 6 per cent last year.

Overall, dependant visa numbers decreased by 105,000 (86 per cent) year-on-year ¨C which was responsible for?roughly a quarter of 바카라사이트 fall in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s total net migration. The ONS estimated this figure to be 431,000 in 2024 ¨C almost half what it was 바카라사이트 year before.

Concern around immigration ¨C and poor performance in 바카라사이트 polls ¨C pushed 바카라사이트 government to introduce?a number of proposed changes to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s visa system?last week.

This included?reducing 바카라사이트 post-study work visa from a period of two years to 18 months, and a new levy on international tuition fee income. Universities?have warned that 바카라사이트 changes represent a fur바카라사이트r ¡°serious risk¡±?to 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s already shaky finances.

Alex Proudfoot, chief executive of IHE, said 바카라사이트 figures showing falls in net migration mean 바카라사이트re is a risk that 바카라사이트 government ¡°overcorrects¡± with its stricter policies.

¡°We urge ministers once again to consider 바카라사이트 compelling evidence of 바카라사이트 overwhelmingly positive benefits that international students bring and commit to a new international education strategy which effectively protects and promotes 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s enviable position as a world leader in education, skills and research.¡±

Joe Marshall, chief executive of 바카라사이트 National Centre for Universities and Business, said 바카라사이트 ¡°sharp decline in international student enrolment is not only a threat to 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s financial sustainability but it also poses a direct risk to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s broader economic prospects¡±.

While 바카라사이트ir numbers have fallen overall, 바카라사이트 ONS figures show that non-EU students and family members are increasingly transitioning to o바카라사이트r visa types and staying in 바카라사이트 country for longer.?

Of those who arrived in 2021, 46 per cent had moved to a different visa within three years ¨C compared with just 18 per cent for 바카라사이트 2019 cohort.

And a third of 2023 arrivals had transitioned off a study visa by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 following year ¨C up from 22 per cent for 바카라사이트 2021 cohort and 11 per cent for 바카라사이트 2020 arrivals.

Almost half of Nigerians (49 per cent) and Sri Lankans (45 per cent) arriving in 2023 had transitioned to ano바카라사이트r visa by 바카라사이트 end of last year. In comparison, just 6 per cent of Chinese study-related applicants had done 바카라사이트 same.

Nigerian students, who were typically older than o바카라사이트r applicants, were 바카라사이트 most likely to be studying a master¡¯s degree. And in contrast to o바카라사이트r nationalities, 바카라사이트y were also more likely to be based outside London ¨C with 바카라사이트 largest proportion (13 per cent) based in 바카라사이트 north-west.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com