The Migration Advisory Committee is scheduled to review the visa program and claims that low-wage migrants, not “global talent,” are being drawn to the UK via the graduate route.
The committee stated in its December annual report that it was “sceptical” about the post-study visa’s ability to draw in highly skilled workers to the UK. The post-study visa was introduced in 2021 and allows all international students to stay and work for two years.
Universities’ concerns that the route might be drastically curtailed or eliminated are probably reinforced by this most recent report, which supports the government’s request that the MAC review the visa in order to “prevent abuse.”
The committee argues that data now suggests these concerns may have been realized. The committee first opposed the creation of the graduate route when discussions about it started in 2018. They were concerned about the kind of students the program would attract. Through the graduate route, 176,000 students have been accepted thus far, along with an additional 37,000 dependents.
The demographics of international students have changed in the years since the visa was introduced, with a notable increase in the number of Indian and Nigerian students as well as a surge in those bringing dependents, despite the fact that there is little information available about how much those on the graduate route earn.
The committee stated that less selective and less expensive universities have seen the fastest growth in student enrollment, which is almost exclusively concentrated on taught master’s degrees.
Additionally, the visa’s popularity has exceeded government projections. Although the government’s central estimate for route applications for 2022–2023 was roughly met by the numbers, MAC reports that the numbers for 2022–2023 have already surpassed the upper estimate.
The UK met its goal of accepting 600,000 international students in 2022, ten years ahead of schedule. The MAC is adamant that it attributes this success to the graduate program’s allure.
The committee also noted that the cost-benefit analysis of pursuing a degree has “changed substantially”, estimating that an international master’s student with an adult dependent could pay as little as £5,000 for a degree and earn approximately £115,000 on the minimum wage over their three years in the UK. This does not include other moving-related expenses to the UK, like housing, visa fees, and the NHS surcharge.
The route has “helped the UK to regain our position as the second most popular study destination for globally mobile students, and this underpins a huge economic contribution,” according to Universities UK International, which defended it.
According to research, the British economy benefited from the nearly £42 billion that international students brought in during 2021–2022. A representative from UUKi stated that the graduate route visa is essential to both sector and government plans to diversify the pipeline for recruiting international students and help distribute the benefits of international students across the full diversity of the UK’s excellent universities.
They also said that since many British universities are experiencing financial difficulties, international students are in favor of the institutions’ continued viability.
Both Sheffield Hallam and Coventry universities announced massive layoffs last week, citing domestic tuition fee freezes and lower-than-expected fall 2023 admissions. Many British universities anticipate lower enrollment for January 2024; some attribute this to restrictions on international students’ ability to bring dependents.
According to the MAC, if the route’s goal is to increase the number of international students studying in the UK, then it has been a “resounding success.” However, the government must decide what the route’s goal is.