University boss urges Government to keep post-study visa for overseas students

THE University of Bradford's vice-chancellor has urged the Government to keep a post-study visa for international students.

Professor Shirley Congdon is among 20 university chiefs to sign a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to preserve the UK's graduate visa route.

This allows overseas students to stay in the UK for two or three years after graduation.

Last week, the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) said it did not find evidence of widespread abuse of the graduate visa route.

The Government-commissioned review into the post-study visa said it should be retained in its current form, adding that it helps attract international students, who pay higher tuition fees, to the UK.

The review comes as the Government searches for measures to cut migration.

In the letter to Rishi Sunak, the vice-chancellors said: "Universities from Sunderland to Sheffield, Leeds to Lancaster, Liverpool to Teesside, Bradford to Huddersfield, and York to Newcastle will all be harmed by the removal or reduction of the (graduate visa route).

"It is an intrinsic part of the educational offer that has made the UK so attractive to brilliant students from all around the world.

"The graduate visa route is regarded by students in key markets like India as an integral part of their educational experience.

"The MAC review made clear that the removal of this route would make the UK less attractive and thus would cause considerable financial detriment to universities around the country."

According to the letter - which is also signed by University of Huddersfield vice-chancellor Professor Bob Cryan - the international student cohort from 2020-21 alone was worth £7.2billion to the economy in the north of England.

"On top of their visa fees, international students who find work and start businesses contribute billions of pounds in income tax, national insurance and VAT annually," the letter adds.

Downing Street said it would set out its response to the MAC review of the graduate visa route "in due course".

The Prime Minister's official spokesperson said: "The PM has been clear that legal migration numbers are too high.

"We are working to bring those down."

He added: "The PM has said before that British students should be the priority for our education system and universities and student visas must be used for education, not immigration."

Under changes, which came into effect in January, international students studying in the UK are no longer able to bring dependants with them, apart from on postgraduate research courses.