Keir Starmer was elected as the United Kingdom’s new prime minister on July 5 after he won the elections against the current Leader of the Opposition, Rishi Sunak. With a new leadership in place in the UK, Indian students and stakeholders are hoping for immigrant-friendly policies.
A few months ago, it was announced that the then-UK PM, Rishi Sunak, was aiming to cancel the graduate visa route, which permits international students to work or look for a job for two years after graduation. The reason behind this plan was to control the high immigration numbers and minimise the number of immigrants who use the graduate visa to immigrate to the UK. However, a report by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended that the UK’s graduate visa route “remains in place in its current form”, as universities across the UK might experience substantial financial difficulty leading to job losses, course closures and a reduction in research in case the visa is stopped. The report also predicted that some institutions would even shut down if the graduate visa route is abolished.
While this brought a ray of small hope for Indian students planning to study in the UK, other policy changes such as restricting international postgraduate research students from bringing their dependents and family members to the country has had a negative impact.
Indian students who wish to head to the UK in the near future for a higher degree are now hoping that the new leadership will take decisions that are in favour of international students, and not the other way around.
“Sunak’s government was proposing an increase in financial maintenance requirements, review of English language assessments, abolishing graduate route visas and such. Even if it is not implemented, the mere news that it may be a possibility scares us. It plays with our mental health as we are then unable to plan our future. Leaders should remember that we have to think about our course, university, finances, living arrangements, finding local guardians, ROI (Return On Investment) of the degree and much more. I am hoping the new Starmer government will be more considerate towards youngsters who just want to get quality education,” said Delhi-based Khushi Jain, 27, who wishes to pursue a higher degree in the next two years.
Hope from the Labour Party
Study abroad experts and UK universities are hopeful from the newly-formed Labour government. Even though it’s been less than a month since the new prime minister took office, the stakeholders are hopeful that the Labour Party will, like in the past, support flexible immigration policies.
“Historically, the Labour Party has supported flexible immigration policies, which are crucial for enhancing study and work opportunities. This alignment benefits students and strengthens pathways for better job opportunities, offering a positive outlook globally, including for Indian students,” said Saurabh Arora, Founder and CEO, University Living.
Supporting Arora’s argument, Prof Manuel Barcia, Dean of Global Engagement, University of Leeds, told indianexpress.com that “based on the signals made by the incoming government prior to the election, we can reasonably speculate that the new government will work closely with universities in an effort to rectify years of neglect under previous administrations. The new Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, is already on record saying this much.”
The recent restrictions on dependent visas had made Indian students hesitant about pursuing a degree in the UK, but experts are hoping that a review can be conducted into this and a reversal can be ordered. As per the data provided, in the first full year of the Graduate route (year to Q2 2022), 66,000 Graduate visas were granted for main applicants and dependents. This doubled to 1,44,000 visas in 2023. There were 30,000 dependent visas issued in 2023.
“Revising the dependent visa policy would be commendable to restore confidence among Indian students and ensure that the UK remains a top destination for international education. Additionally, there is hope for a more streamlined visa process, making it easier and faster for students to obtain the necessary permissions to study in the UK, and enhancing post-study work opportunities to gain valuable experience in the UK job market,” said Manisha Zaveri, Joint Managing Director, Career Mosaic.
Do UK universities provide apt ROI for the big investment?
Like all other countries, even in the UK, international students pay more than domestic students. As per a MAC report, in the academic year 2021-22, international students studying in the top-100 ranked UK universities paid £21,490 (approx Rs 22 lakh) and £24,040 (approx Rs 25 lakh) in average annual fees for undergraduate and postgraduate (taught) study, respectively. For universities ranked 1000+, average fees paid were lower, at £13,740 (approx Rs 14.5 lakh) for undergraduate study and £8,480 (approx Rs 8.9 lakh) for postgraduate (taught) study.
However, undergraduate fees for domestic students in England have been frozen at £9,250 (approx Rs 9.8 lakh) since 2017 and will continue for the 2024-25 academic year.
International fees account for 22 per cent of total income for universities ranked in the top 100 and slightly higher at 23 per cent of total income for those in the 1000+ grouping. Students argue that while the universities can break-even or generate profit by inviting international students, the Starmer government should also now consider whether or not the students can enjoy a good ROI by investing lakhs on a UK degree.
“A UK degree provides an excellent return on investment for Indian students. The skills acquired while taking a degree in a UK university are transferable, meaning that analytical, written, and oral skills can be applied to virtually any job in any sector,” said Manuel Barcia.
“Labour’s manifesto promised to create a secure future for UK higher education by working closely with universities to ensure they deliver for both students and the economy. This includes commitments to replace short funding cycles for research and development with 10-year budgets, allowing for more stable and meaningful industry partnerships,” he added.
Experts are also hoping that the Starmer-led government will introduce more scholarships and fellowships to help international students, rather than imposing restrictions.
“Enhanced scholarship schemes and financial aid options could attract a diverse range of students. We remain optimistic that the new leadership will create a more favourable environment, making the UK an even more attractive destination for higher education,” added Manisha Zaveri.