Government urged to scrap plans for international student levy

Criticism has been levelled at the government’s plan to introduce a new 6% levy on international students to fund the return of maintenance grants.

The funds created from the proposed levy will go towards new maintenance grants for domestic students from disadvantaged backgrounds who sign up to ‘priority’ courses supporting the government’s industrial strategy.

The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said that the grants are aimed at “those who need them most”.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference, where the plans were confirmed, Phillipson said: “Labour is putting [universities] back in the service of working-class young people.”

The research and strategy consultancy Public First predicts that, over five years, the total number of international student enrolments could decrease by over 77,000 students

This comes after the policy was originally announced in May, in the government’s white paper ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’.

The research and strategy consultancy Public First predicts that, over five years, the total number of international student enrolments could decrease by over 77,000 students.

If the drop in international student revenue is paid for entirely by reducing the number of subsidised domestic students, there could be around 135,000 fewer domestic places available over five years, the consultancy said.

The levy has caused outrage among university chiefs, and there has been fierce lobbying against it.

University leaders have been warning of significant financial concerns caused by a deficit in international student numbers.

Chief Executive of Universities UK (UUK), Vivienne Stern, said: “A levy on international students will not help disadvantaged students; it will hinder them. As emerging evidence already shows, it would reduce the number of places available for domestic students and mean universities have even less of their scant resources to invest into expanding access and supporting students.”

I think the international student levy is the wrong policy to implement. I think it will hurt the sector. I think it’s not in the long-term interests of the UK either

Duncan Ivison, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester

Chief Executive of the Russell Group, Tim Bradshaw, called the levy “a terrible policy that will damage universities at a time when they are already facing financial challenges”.

Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison of the University of Manchester, which has one of the largest international student cohorts in the country, also urged ministers to reconsider the levy.

He said: “I think the international student levy is the wrong policy to implement. I think it will hurt the sector. I think it’s not in the long-term interests of the UK either.”

Policy-watchers told University World News that it could be “clever politics”, as there is equally strong support in favour of restoring maintenance grants for students on lower income who are having to work long hours while studying.

Sutton Trust, the UK’s leading social mobility charity, also welcomed the announcement.

Nick Harrison, its Chief Executive, called it “a positive step in breaking down barriers to opportunity for students from the poorest backgrounds”.