International students have been struggling with Britain’s hostile visa system even before Labour unveiled its plans to cut net migration, study shows.
A report by the Russell Group Students’ Unions (RGSU) found that one in two international students reported difficulty with visa applications, including 67% of disabled people and 78% of non-binary people.
These findings follow Government plans to cut the graduate visa from two years to 18 months, reducing the period overseas students are able to remain in the UK after graduating.
The proposals also include a new levy on income made by universities from international tuition fees, alongside a host of measures revealed in Labour’s immigration white paper, aimed at reducing net migration to the UK.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 last month, UCL Provost Michael Spence (inset) said it would be “kind of crazy” for the Government to impose further restrictions on international students.
“If you’re not going to have international students, inevitably domestic students are going to have to pay more.”
But the Government insisted the additional tax revenue would be “reinvested into the higher education and skills system”.
Labour also said it intends to strengthen requirements on “sponsoring universities” to grant visas to students. These include ensuring courses have 95% enrollment rates and 90% completion rates in order to remain compliant.
These measures follow a surge in the number of student visas approved since 2019, rising from 269,000 to a peak of 500,000 in 2023.
Labour claims some students have used student visas to gain long-term access to the UK, reporting that 47% of those who claim asylum while on visas are international students.
“We must take action against those who seek to abuse and misuse the system”, the Government said in its white paper.
It added that students have claimed asylum at the end of their studies despite circumstances not changing in their home countries.
International students from marginalised communities are disproportionately affected by a hostile visa application process.
67% of disabled international students (compared to 47% of non-disabled respondents) and 78% of non-binary people (compared to 54% women and 44% men) have reported difficulties when applying for a student visa.
Half of all international students have reported experiencing poor mental health while 58% say they have felt lonely or isolated while studying in the UK. The same is true for 75% of disabled people and 61% of queer folk.
Visa changes ‘creating anxiety’
The changes to the graduate visa rules are a key concern for students. The visa currently gives students permission to remain in the UK for two years after completing their studies.
Without any employment or salary requirement, the graduate visa is designed to provide international students with opportunities to gain access to the UK jobs market.
“The graduate visa was, of course, one of the reasons why I was tempted to come here”, UCL Union’s Equity and Inclusion Officer Eda Yildrimiyaka told Radio 4 last month.
She added that changes to the visa timeframe were “creating anxiety amongst students”, many of whom came to the UK knowing they could remain for two years after they graduate.
A final-year history student told The Cheese Grater that the reduction has made them rethink their entire plan after graduating. They said “it would likely take more than [18 months] to hit the salary threshold to remain in the UK.”
Government statistics report that the number of visas distributed to students in top Russell Group universities has fallen by 7%, whereas the number of visas granted to unis between 600 and 1,200 in the global rankings has skyrocketed by 49% in the last few years.
Students reported that the cost of the application fee, which currently stands at just under £500, was one of the key difficulties they faced, along with delays in the application process.
Students say they didn’t appreciate being treated like “cash cows” by universities and the government, as almost half say they think about money always or often.
On average, international students living in London spend £1,635 a month, excluding tuition fees. This is roughly consistent with most estimates for the cost of living in London, but international students also pay an annual health surcharge of £776 on top of their visa application fee of £524.
Higher fees for students
These policies have raised significant concerns for both students and universities alike, with a new tax potentially leading to further rises in tuition fees paid by international students.
The government projects that international students contribute over £20bn annually to the British economy through fees and living costs.
RGSU’s report highlighted that international students feel “exploited and undervalued” as a result of high tuition fees.
Fees for international students have grown rapidly in the past decade, with total fees increasing by 71% in five years, from £5.4bn in 2016-17 to £9.7bn in 2021-22.
One student told The Cheese Grater that higher fees “would make the prospect of studying in the UK more daunting and challenging.”
These findings follow a noticeable decline in the number of international students at top Russell Group universities. UCL’s international student population fell by 4.6% last year, making up 52% of the total student body.
The Provost told Radio 4’s Westminster Hour: “It is vital that universities and the Government work together to make sure that our ability to invest in home students and life-changing research and innovation is not put at risk.”
The Government has remained light on details regarding the additional tax on international students, saying “further details will be set out in the Autumn Budget.”
Draining the talent pool
Higher fees and a challenging visa process will mean that the UK loses out on skilled students who enhance the institutions they attend and contribute significantly to the British economy.
Government statistics found that 90% of students on the graduate visa found work within 6 months after graduating. Over 30% of these students were in highly skilled work, considered level 6 or above.
One student we spoke to said they are now considering returning to their home country following their graduation for their early career instead of remaining in the UK as a result of Labour’s white paper.
The Provost said: “Britain’s universities are research institutions at the forefront of global research in areas including health, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence. They are vital to creating a high-skill, high-productivity economy.”
UCL Union President Goksu Danaci and Education Officer Shaban Chaudhary attended Parliament last month to launch the RGSU report and represent the international student community at UCL.
Commenting on the report’s findings, Danaci said: “International students are an integral part of our community and this research shows the urgent need to make changes to visa policies, work rights, and support systems to ensure their contributions are matched with the support they deserve.”
This article appeared in CG92
