Britain’s universities watchdog has called on the government to remove visa restrictions for international students to help struggling institutions.
Sir David Behan, interim chairman of the Office for Students, suggests that raising tuition fees and relaxing visa rules could support universities facing financial difficulties. He warned that the “golden age of higher education” might be coming to an end.
Applications from international students to British universities have declined recently. New visa rules introduced in January, which restrict most international students from bringing dependants to the UK, are believed to have contributed to this drop.
Nick Hillman of the Higher Education Policy Institute told The National that the decrease in international applications has been especially noticeable among master’s students. He attributed this trend to the January 2024 visa changes and other factors, such as economic issues in Nigeria.
The Migration Advisory Committee estimates that the ban on dependants could reduce annual migration by 120,000. Home Office data reveals that 62,600 fewer students and dependants applied for study visas in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year.
In May, many Russell Group universities reported a 10 percent drop in international master’s applications for September 2024, compared to the previous year.
Sir David Behan highlighted that the higher education sector has been under pressure from multiple factors, including the global pandemic, Brexit, political instability, industrial action, the cost-of-living crisis, and stagnant domestic undergraduate fees since 2012. He emphasized the need for universities to consider mergers or partnerships to address their financial challenges.
“Universities must reassess their medium-term financial strategies and explore new options,” Sir David said.
On Thursday, thousands of students received their A-level results. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated that a significant increase in tuition fees over the next five years would be “unpalatable.”
“I understand the challenges faced by institutions, but raising fees significantly is not a desirable solution,” she told Sky News.
