This new paper by Policy Exchange for the first time outlines the full scale of international student migration to the UK. It argues British universities must return to selling education, not immigration.

International students have become the biggest driver of international migration to the UK. 425,000 visas were issued to international students in the last year – 43% of all non-travel visas. The numbers moving to other visas have rapidly expanded, with 40% of those on study visas in 2023 moving onto another visa within 12 months – up from 3% in 2019. 15% of all asylum claims now come from those who arrived in the UK on student visas.

The report reveals:

• International students are crowding out British students, with universities such as Oxford, Southampton, Coventry and East London increasing international student places whilst cutting domestic places in real terms.
• Rapid growth in international student numbers has been driven by demand for short postgraduate courses at lower tier universities. Yet the value of cross-subsidy for domestic students and research at these universities averages just £2900 per student.
• Were the Government to open student loans back up to EU students as part of the proposed ‘Youth Experience Scheme’ this could cost the Treasury £2 billion in loan debt within 5 years.
• Universities are running their own English language assessments, with 18% reporting no international student has failed their internal qualifying tests.

The report calls for the Graduate Visa route to be scrapped, for tougher English language requirements for international students, and for a flat £1000 annual International Student Levy – with students at top universities exempted.

In a foreword to the report David Goodhart says:

‘Policy Exchange’s excellent new report is a shocking indictment on the present international student regime. The UK’s higher education sector has been allowed to evolve into a backdoor for unprecedented levels of migration that is neither beneficial, short term nor controlled. This report should anger – and serve as a rallying call for – those of us who believe that international students, when welcomed through a robust and well-designed system, make important contributions to our universities and wider society.’

The launch of this report was covered by:

• The Times
• The Telegraph
• The Daily Mail
• City A.M.
• The Independent
• The Express
• POLITICO’s London Playbook