Graduate visas to be slashed to 18 months in series of policies to cut migration levels

Graduate visas for international students are set to be reduced from two years to 18 months among a flurry of changes announced by the Government. 

The White Paper, which sets out the Government’s plans on immigration, also confirmed that a new levy will be placed on universities’ earnings from international student fees.

The Labour government hopes that the plans, revealed on 12 May, will restore “control” to the immigration system and promoted controlled and managed growth.

It is estimated that international students bring in £20.65 billion to the British economy, which the Government has celebrated as a “significant positive impact”.

[Graduate visas] will now be reduced to 18 months under the Government’s proposals, despite calls for the visa to be lengthened to ensure the UK maintains its position as a leading country in education

Yet, with these new changes in place, many worry that the UK will struggle to maintain its high numbers of international students.

Since 2021, students have been able to access graduate visas lasting for two years after completing their degree, or three years for PhD students. This will now be reduced to 18 months under the Government’s proposals, despite calls for the visa to be lengthened to ensure the UK maintains its position as a leading country in education.

The Government previously suggested that any potential exemption could be limited to students entering fields that required a high level of skill. However, this will not detailed in the White Paper.

The Government will also “strengthen the requirements that all sponsoring students must meet in order to recruit international students”.

Additionally, in order to stop the “misuse” of student visas, the government wishes to “strengthen the requirements that all sponsoring institutions must meet in order to recruit international students”.

The White Paper states that the levy will be ‘reinvested into the higher education and skills system’ in an attempt to share out the benefits generated by international student expenses

As a result, course completion rate must now stand at 95%, with those institutions that fail to meet the requirement be placed on a “bespoke action plan”.

Critics of the proposals have also voiced concerns that the levy, which will be placed on all universities taking in international students, will work against UK universities’ desire for economic stability.

In a recently published financial sustainability report by the Office for Students, international student recruitment was down by 15.5% in 2023/24. This trend is predicted to continue in 2024/25, with numbers forecasted to be down 21% compared to previous years.

These figures could continue to worsen with the new measures taken by Labour in this White Paper.

In an attempt to justify the Government’s choices, the White Paper states that the levy will be “reinvested into the higher education and skills system” in an attempt to share out the benefits generated by international student expenses.

Further details are due to be set out by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget. Universities will, no doubt, be awaiting this knowledge keenly as their financial viability continues to be threatened.