The UK government has recently unveiled significant modifications to the visa program for international students and their families. With the aim of reducing net migration, the Conservative Party plans to tighten the regulations concerning foreign students bringing their partners and children to the UK.
For international students, these new rules, announced by the Home Office and the Department for Education, mean that most individuals coming from abroad to study at British universities will be prohibited from bringing their families with them. Currently, master’s students can bring their partners and children to the UK under a graduate visa, allowing them to stay for 24 months after completing their studies.
However, the forthcoming system, set to take effect in January of next year, will restrict these privileges to those engaged in designated research projects. This includes PhD students and those pursuing research-led master’s courses, which typically span three to five years. Additionally, the government plans to review the criteria for determining whether overseas students can financially support themselves during their time in Britain and intends to clamp down on international students involved in inappropriate applications.
The impact on universities is expected to be significant. Foreign students contribute significantly to the financial well-being of Scottish universities due to the higher fees they pay compared to domestic students. Moreover, they make substantial contributions to Scotland’s economy, with Glasgow being among the cities benefiting the most from these contributions.
The implications of this move could result in universities facing financial constraints and could have a detrimental effect on the economies of cities across Scotland, which annually welcome thousands of international students.
The government’s motivation behind these changes lies in its commitment to reducing net migration levels, which reached a record high last year. One strategy to achieve this is by limiting the rights of individuals coming to the UK for the purpose of studying. By prohibiting students from bringing their families, it is possible that the UK becomes a less appealing destination for international students, thereby indirectly reducing overall migration levels by confining visas to university course students exclusively.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman argued that tightening this route is necessary to fulfill the government’s promise to the British public regarding net migration reduction, allowing for better protection of public services while still facilitating the arrival of students who make significant contributions to the UK economy.
The response to these changes has been mixed. Jo Grady, the general secretary of the University and College Union, criticized the alterations as “vindictive,” asserting that students, regardless of their origin, bring substantial value to society and deserve the right to reside with their loved ones. Madeleine Sumption, director of Oxford University’s Migration Observatory, highlighted that the impact of restricting family members is expected to be relatively small on a national scale but will not be evenly distributed. She further suggested that this move may make the UK somewhat less attractive to master’s students, who might choose to be separated from their families or opt not to pursue studies in the UK as a result.
