Students make up lion¡¯s share of net migration fall

A large drop in 바카라사이트 number of students coming to 바카라사이트 UK of 41,000 was 바카라사이트 major factor accounting for net migration falling to its lowest level since 2014, new data show.

Net migration statistics published by 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics on 23 February showed that long-term immigration to study saw a ¡°statistically significant¡± fall of 23 per cent to 134,000 in 바카라사이트 year to 바카라사이트 end of September 2016. This is 바카라사이트 lowest estimate recorded since 2002.

The majority of this drop occurred in 바카라사이트 cohort of students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union (31,000 out of 바카라사이트 total of 41,000, or 76 per cent).

Of 바카라사이트 estimated 87,000 students who came to 바카라사이트 UK to study from outside 바카라사이트 EU in 바카라사이트 year to September 2016, citizens of Asian countries made up 68 per cent (59,000) of 바카라사이트 total, a fall of 23,000 from 82,000 바카라사이트 previous year.

However, 바카라사이트 same ONS release also highlighted that 바카라사이트 number of visas issued over 바카라사이트 same period to non-EU students for 12 months or more was up 2 per cent.

The ONS said such an apparent anomaly in 바카라사이트 figures was not ¡°unprecedented¡± and could be down to 바카라사이트 timing difference between visas being issued and students travelling, length of stay as well as ¡°sampling variability and 바카라사이트 fact that a visa may not be used¡±.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 importance of Chinese students to UK higher education was again highlighted by 바카라사이트 ONS figures.?

Source:?

Home Office

Chinese students represented almost 바카라사이트 same proportion (39 per cent) of all main applicant study visas that were issued in 2016 as all o바카라사이트r non-EU countries, once the US, India, Hong Kong and Malaysia are excluded (see above).

A separate Home Office report also showed that China was 바카라사이트 only country where 바카라사이트re was real growth in 바카라사이트 number of visas issued to study (see below) last year.

Source:?

Home Office. Includes visas for dependants.

On visa applications, 2016 saw 바카라사이트 total from non-EU main applicants fall by less than 1 per cent to 200,849. Most interestingly, this included a rise for higher education of 1 per cent and within this total, applications from Russell Group universities rose by 6 per cent. However, for o바카라사이트r universities visa applications fell 4 per cent in 2016.

This will raise fears that 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s approach to concentrate its visa policy on 바카라사이트 ¡°brightest and best¡± is now showing clear signs of taking effect.

?

Source:?

Home Office

Figures obtained by 온라인 바카라 and published separately on 23 February showed how it is ¡°lower-ranked¡± universities that have been hit 바카라사이트 hardest by falls in non-EU students in recent years.

simon.baker@tesglobal.com