Student migration in the UK

Article

The government's overall objective is to reduce total net immigration to the UK 'from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands'. Net immigration via routes over which the government does have control, including student migration from outside the EEA, will have to be cut by substantially more than half in order to meet this overall objective.

Data on compliance in the student visa system is limited, but suggests that rates of non-compliance are relatively low. Given this, it is clear that cuts of the magnitude sought by the government will not be achieved simply by stamping out abuse. Indeed, even stopping all student migration for courses below degree level would not reduce the total numbers sufficiently to meet the government's overall objective.

There is a risk that the proposed changes in the student visa regime impose substantial (and very real) costs on the education sector and the wider economy simply in order to deliver largely illusory reductions in migration statistics.

Related items

  1. A young woman with a long ponytail sits looking out of a bus window

    State of the North 2025 - The kids aren't alright: How to deliver for young people in the North

    This year’s State of the North report highlights how regional inequality exacerbates the growing challenges facing many young northerners. 
  2. An illustration of an ideal public transport system: a smiling family cross a road near a green bus with houses and trees in the background

    The transport challenge for low-income households

    Many people living on low incomes in the UK are limited in their ability to access the building blocks of a good life because of poor transport provision.

  3. Towards universal opportunity for young people

    Outlining a vision for young people which could increase social mobility while also reducing inequality and disadvantage, so that every young person has the opportunity to build a decent life.