A new report by the UK think tank Policy Exchange suggests that many foreign students are using university education as a means to settle permanently in the UK. The group is calling for the graduate visa, which allows international students to work for two years after school, to be limited only to postgraduate researchers. The UK government had earlier reduced the visa length to 18 months and stopped most students from bringing dependents. However, Policy Exchange argues that these changes are insufficient.
It claims that 40% of international students changed their visa type within a year in 2023, compared to just 3% in 2019. The UK Think Tank report warns that universities are focusing too much on attracting migrants, not genuine students, who will honour the terms of their visas. While some officials argue that international students benefit the economy, critics claim that the system is being exploited. The UK government says more reforms are coming to stop misuse while still welcoming real students.
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