A Professor in the UK Calls for the Scrapping of Student Visa Rules for International Students

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According to Professor Jennifer Watling, the prior regulations ought to be abandoned.

According to a senior university official, the government ought to repeal a regulation that prohibits certain international students from traveling to the UK with their families.

The professor at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) states that the 2024 restriction has resulted in fewer international admissions.

International students, she said, contributed “value in terms of cultural richness and diversity” but were also significant revenue sources for many colleges.

According to a government spokesperson, “Net migration must come down,” even if the UK appreciates the contribution that overseas students make.

The Conservative government implemented the restriction on relatives traveling with international students in an effort to reduce migration, and the Labour government has stated that it has no intention of lifting it.

According to Home Office data, since the adjustment was implemented, fewer international student visa applications have been submitted to certain universities.

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According to Prof. Watling, institutions “have to obtain income from sources other than UK students” as a result of the cap on fees for domestic students.

Starting in September, undergraduate tuition in the UK will increase to £9,535 annually.

The average yearly salary for international students at the same level is around £22,000; however, some pay up to £38,000, according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

International Students Are Welcomed to the UK

According to 2024 admission data from the advocacy organization Universities UK, there are over 51,000 international students enrolled in northwestern English universities.

University revenue from these fees might be crucial, according to a report by the Higher Education Policy Institute.

The Institute’s Rose Stephenson stated, “For Manchester, there was an economic benefit of £450 million, which translates to over £3,500 per resident, again per cohort of international students coming in.”

According to Margarida Vasconcelos, an MMU student studying digital marketing, overseas students are still drawn to the UK despite the decline in admissions.

She stated, “There are many possibilities for international students and people from many cultures and religions, so it makes us feel more welcome—it was why I wanted to come to Manchester.”

“This government strongly values the contribution that international students make to our economy, to our education institutions, and to our society,” a Home Office spokesman said.

Ref: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3e40v79d5xo