Too Little, Too Late: Committee's observations on the Government Response to the Report on Overseas Students and Net Migration - Business, Innovation and Skills Committee Contents


Appendix: Written evidence submitted by Universities UK


Introduction

1.  Universities UK notes the government's response to the fourth report of the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee on Overseas Students and Net Migration.

2.  We acknowledge the more positive tone of recent government statements on international students, including the Prime Minister's welcome comments during his recent trip to India, which highlighted the importance of international students to the UK and made it clear that there is no cap on the number of genuine university students who can study here. We are pleased that the response reiterates the government's commitment to "sustainable growth of a sector in which the UK excels".

3.  However, we would take issue with the government's interpretation of the most recent HESA data on international student numbers. Our views are set out below.

Latest figures for international enrolments

  1. Figures published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in January show that the number of first year non-EU students at HEIs decreased by 0.4% in 2011-12. This is largely the result of a decrease amongst postgraduates. Non-EU entrants to postgraduate degrees fell by 2% between 2010 and 2011.


5.  The above figures relate to new entrants. The overall number of non-EU students enrolled on courses in universities is up by 1.5% from 2010-2011. However, this is driven by increases in the number of new entrants in previous years, many of whom are enrolled on courses lasting more than one year.

6.  The total number of non-EU students enrolled on postgraduate courses dropped for the first time in ten years, before which records are not directly comparable.

7.  Within this it is clear that overall demand is being sustained by rapid growth in the number of Chinese students.


Visa applications by education sector

8.  Recent figures released by the Home Office show that Tier 4 visa applications are substantially down, although the majority of the decrease is accounted for by a decrease in the number of visa applications for study at further education institutions and private colleges. Visa applications for study at HEIs are flat. In the context of a rapidly growing and highly competitive international market, and the government's commitment to 'sustainable growth in a market in which the UK excels', this is a cause for concern.


Perceptions of leading study destinations

9.  There is also evidence to suggest the UK is becoming less attractive as a destination of study. The graph below shows the fall in the percentage of overseas education agents saying the UK is a "very attractive" study destination, in stark contrast to Canada which has seen a 15 per cent rise in a four year period.



10.  The UK had a 13% share of the market for international students in 2010, the second largest in the world behind only the USA. Our competitor countries, such as Canada and Australia, are making concerted efforts to increase their share of the international market. A report for the Canadian government recommended doubling the number of international students by 2022, and the Australian government commissioned a strategic review of their student visa system (the Knight Review), following which restrictions were lifted and a more generous post-study work option introduced.

Net Migration

11.  We note that changes to visa policy to date have produced a reduction in net migration, but we are still a long way from meeting the government target of reducing net migration to the 'tens of thousands'.


12.  In order to meet the target the government will need to continue to bear down on immigration. Since students are the largest category of migrant, and within this university students may account for about 75% of the total, we remain concerned that the continued inclusion of international university students in the net migration target is incompatible with the government's ambitions for growth.

26 February 2013


 
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