UK Migration Update: International Students Remain in Net Migration Figures
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The UK government has made it clear that international students will remain part of the country’s net migration statistics, despite continued lobbying from the education sector. Speaking at The PIE Live Europe 2025, Brian Bell, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), urged institutions to stop pushing for their removal, stating, “It’s not going to happen.”
Bell emphasised that the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an independent body, adheres to the UN definition of migration, making any changes politically unfeasible. He warned that altering migration data for students could set a precedent for future politically motivated adjustments.
Simon Marginson, emeritus professor at the University of Oxford, supported Bell’s stance, highlighting that international students are temporary migrants, similar to labour migrants, and should be counted accordingly. He called for a more informed debate on immigration that moves beyond political rhetoric.
The discussion comes as the UK prepares to release a new immigration white paper, with net migration remaining a top government priority. In the year ending June 2024, net migration to the UK was estimated at 728,000, a 20% drop from the previous year, following the government’s ban on student dependants for postgraduate-taught courses.
Bell warned that universities exploiting loopholes in the student visa system, such as using research master’s courses to bring dependants, could lead to stricter policies. “The home secretary is not stupid,” he said, cautioning that a surge in such practices could result in a complete ban on student dependants, including PhD students.
The upcoming immigration white paper is expected to introduce further changes, including a review of the post-study work visa. Reports suggest potential restrictions on career paths where salaries do not rise significantly over time, though Universities UK International (UUKi) has stated this is not yet a settled policy decision.
As the UK government tightens migration policies, international students and universities must prepare for a shifting landscape in the country’s higher education sector.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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