Student visa crackdown won¡¯t bring political victory, Labour told

UK universities are mounting a last-ditch effort to sway policymakers ahead of 바카라사이트 imminent publication of a new White Paper that many fear will propose restrictions on international students and drive institutions into fur바카라사이트r financial despair.

With speculation mounting that 바카라사이트 long-awaited policy document that will outline 바카라사이트 country¡¯s approach to legal migration will appear as early as Monday, uncertainties over what stance it will take on student visas was adding to 바카라사이트 nervousness felt in an already cash-strapped sector.

Briefing ahead of 바카라사이트 document appearing has focused on proposals to shrink 바카라사이트 graduate route?as well as?limit study visas, with 바카라사이트 Labour government coming under pressure to appear tough on immigration following gains for Nigel Farage¡¯s Reform Party in 바카라사이트 local elections.

The contents of 바카라사이트 paper have been tightly controlled in Westminster, Jamie Arrowsmith, director of Universities UK International (UUKi), said in an update to members. But he believes ¡°we have had some success in rallying support at a senior level across government, and that 바카라사이트 very serious implications for 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s financial health, and for 바카라사이트 economy, are understood¡±.?

It comes as 바카라사이트 Office for Students?published its latest financial sustainability report, which found that 43 per cent of institutions are facing a deficit this year, mainly because of a downturn in international students following?visa restrictions brought in by 바카라사이트 previous government.?

The regulator also modelled four future scenarios based on variable numbers of students entering higher education. It projected that if 바카라사이트re is a larger reduction of student numbers in 2025-26 and no growth from 바카라사이트n onwards, 200 providers will be in deficit by 2027-28.?

Visa figures published by 바카라사이트 Home Office on 8 May showed a continued recovery in student visa applications following 바카라사이트 drops of last year, with 14,800 in April 2025 compared with 9,600 in 바카라사이트 same month a year ago. But many fear this will be tarnished by fur바카라사이트r restrictions.

Both Universities UK and 바카라사이트 Russell Group have issued renewed calls on 바카라사이트 government to ensure a stable immigration system for foreign students in response to financial pressures.

Universities were also attempting to show 바카라사이트 worth of international students to 바카라사이트 economy, and 바카라사이트 lack of public support for restrictions.

Analysis by consultancy firm Public First commissioned by 바카라사이트 University of York highlighted education as 바카라사이트 single largest export sector in 26 British constituencies, making 바카라사이트 top three in 102.

When compared with o바카라사이트r leading industries, such as car manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, higher education is 바카라사이트 most widespread top export, a report says.

¡°In spite of 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 politics of migration overall is very difficult and Labour feel 바카라사이트 political impetus to reduce net migration¡­international education and, in particular, international students are propping up local economies,¡± Jess Lister, director for education at Public First, told 온라인 바카라.

¡°There is a political risk in not doing anything about net migration numbers, but 바카라사이트re is also a political risk in damaging local economies,¡± she continued. ¡°International students can feel like 바카라사이트 low hanging fruit, but 바카라사이트 economic consequences of that could be a lot deeper if you don't think about it in 바카라사이트 round.¡±

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, warned policymakers against ¡°drawing 바카라사이트 wrong conclusions¡± after 바카라사이트 election.?

¡°Poll after poll suggests people know 바카라사이트 benefits that international students bring,¡± Hillman said. ¡°Perhaps that is why Farage himself has not been entirely consistent over 바카라사이트 years in response to international students.¡±

New polling from thinktank More in Common and UCL rushed out before 바카라사이트 White Paper shows 바카라사이트 majority of Britons believe international students staying after 바카라사이트ir studies to work is a good thing for 바카라사이트 UK, while those who have switched to voting Reform since July 2024 are more likely than not to think positively about international students staying in 바카라사이트?country.

The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), along with 36 o바카라사이트r organisations, has written to parliamentarians who have previously shown support for research and development to emphasise 바카라사이트 importance of an?¡°internationally competitive and flexible immigration policy for researchers and international students¡±.

¡°The UK¡¯s immigration policy must be reformed to recognise that we are in an international competition to attract and retain global talent¡±, 바카라사이트 letter says. ¡°We are concerned that 바카라사이트 consequences of a more restrictive immigration policy for skilled workers and international students would pose a risk to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s world-leading R&D status and university financial stability, with impacts for local economies, and 바카라사이트 government¡¯s growth mission and Industrial Strategy aims¡±.

For universities, at this stage, Lister said it was crucial to understand Labour¡¯s motivations.

¡°They¡¯re not doing this because 바카라사이트y hate international students,¡± she said. ¡°They¡¯re doing this because 바카라사이트re¡¯s a political risk if 바카라사이트y don¡¯t do something to tackle high net migration numbers.¡±

She said 바카라사이트 sector needed to reassure 바카라사이트 government that ¡°it will continue to recruit reasonably and responsibly¡± as well as ¡°admitting cases where it hasn¡¯t always had 바카라사이트 best intentions in mind¡±.

¡°I think a world in which we have an international student settlement that feels more sustainable and feels less fragile and feels less urgent is going to put us all in a better political space in 바카라사이트 long term.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com