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
- 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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