Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Reports of two IOF soldiers killed in military vehicle explosion in Rafah.
Israeli media: Israeli soldier killed, another wounded in explosion in Rafah.
Medical sources in West Bank: Palestinian killed by occupation fire; wounded and left to bleed while ambulance crews were barred from reaching him in Al-Ain refugee camp, west of Nablus.
Hamas: Facts on ground reveal opposite of claims, as occupation authorities were ones who armed criminal gangs that practiced murder and kidnapping against people of Gaza.
Hamas: US Department of State's false claims fully in line with Israeli disinformation.
Hamas responds to US claims in statement, fully rejects US claims of "imminent attack" or violation of ceasefire.
Field sources in West Bank: Israeli bulldozers vandalize Palestinian lands northwest of Nablus.
Field sources in West Bank: Settlers attack Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in Nablus.
Field sources in West Bank: Armed Israeli settlers torch Palestinian vehicles near olive groves in Turmus Ayya north of Ramallah.
Israeli PM Office: Netanyahu has ordered that the Rafah crossing will not open until further notice.

UK universities see drop in int'l student apps amid visa restrictions

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Guardian
  • 13 May 2024 12:38
4 Min Read

Creative UK, which represents the creative UK industries, states that curtailing the ability for international students to stay and work in the UK post-graduation would damage a sector worth £108 billion a year.

  • x
  • An undated image of the University of Oxford in the UK (University of Oxford)
    An undated image of the University of Oxford in the UK (University of Oxford)

UK universities are witnessing a deep plunge in applications of international students wanting to study in the UK, as leaders of academic and industry institutions fear that the graduate visa entitlement, allowing international graduates to work in the UK for up to three years could be shut down.

As reported by The Guardian, citing a report by the migration advisory committee (MAC) to be delivered to the government on Tuesday, more restrictions on student visas would collide the flow of talent for the UK's creative industries.

Creative UK, which represents these industries, states that curtailing the ability for international students to stay and work in the UK post-graduation would damage a sector worth £108 billion a year.

A survey of 75 UK universities by the British Universities’ International Liaison Association revealed that nine out of 10 institutions had less international applications for the next academic year, with a 27% drop in total applications for taught postgraduate courses compared with the previous year.

A joint letter by Creative UK and Universities UK, representing vice-chancellors, called on the government to reject the agenda to remove or restrict the graduate visa plan, as they call international graduates integral to the creative industries, which are proving to be more significant than the UK’s aerospace, life sciences, and automotive industries altogether.

Read next: UK threatens to expel expats who support the Palestinian resistance

The letter stated, “Following further increases to visa fees and salary thresholds, the graduate visa represents one of the few routes left which enables talented graduates to remain in the UK and contribute to our growing creative industries.”

It added, “Whether it’s a young Jimmy Choo developing his craft at Cordwainers or world-renowned DJ Peggy Gou, who studied at London College of Fashion, the role our universities play in attracting the best creative talent from around the world goes to show the soft-power influence of our institutions.”

'Students are more important than you think'

Sally Mapstone, the vice-chancellor of St Andrews University and president of Universities UK, relayed in an interview with Sky News on Sunday, “International students are incredibly important to UK culture. They contribute a huge amount to universities, to the economy, to skills and jobs and we think it would be a tragedy – calamitous not just for institutions but actually for the UK as a whole – if the government took what would actually be quite unnecessary further action to restrict the number of international students.”

Abolishing the graduate visa, the British Academy told the MAC would "stifle the vibrancy of the UK’s academic and research landscape," as the drop in numbers threatens the financial sustainability of universities, which would trigger course closures and staff redundancies.

Fears began to rise when UK Home Secretary James Cleverly commissioned the MAC “to ensure the graduate route is not being abused. In particular, that some of the demand for study visas is not being driven more by a desire for immigration.”

This comes as Robert Jenrick, a former immigration minister, released a report last week with the Centre for Policy Studies think tank, urging for the graduate visa to be stopped, claiming it “allowed people to come and work in the gig economy and on very low wages."

Read next: UK university students have to work three jobs to meet expenses

A government spokesperson responded to these updates by saying, "We are fully focused on striking the right balance between acting decisively to tackle net migration and attracting the brightest students to our universities, recognising the significant contribution they make to the UK."

  • universities
  • international students
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Iraqi religious leader Sheikh Jawad al-Khalisi on Al Mayadeen Plus, October 18, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Most powerful decision-maker in Iraq is US: Sheikh Al-Khalisi

Flags of Iran, Russia, and China (IRNA)
Politics

Iran, Russia, China confirm: Iran nuclear issue out of UNSC

Member of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc Ali Fayyad speaks to Al Mayadeen, October 18, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Hezbollah, allies will reject direct talks with 'Israel': MP Fayyad

The bodies of killed Palestinians held by "Israel" during the war are downloaded from Red Cross vehicles after their release, at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP)
Politics

From rubble to graveyards, Gaza continues recovering its martyrs

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS