Graduate Route Visa Debate: UK witnesses decline in international student applications

As per reports, amid the uncertainty over the continuation of UK graduate route visa, a survey stated that the UK universities saw a drop in international student applications this year as against the previous year. 

Study in UK: Amid the uncertainty over the graduate route visa that allows international graduates to work in the UK for a period of up to three years after studies, UK universities are reporting a significant drop in applications from international students.

A survey by the British Universities' International Liaison Association on 75 UK universities suggested that around 90% of these universities saw a drop in international student applications. These universities witnessed a drop of around 27% in applications for postgraduate courses as against last year, as reported by India Today.

The poll of 75 universities also found that nine out of 10 universities had fewer international applications for the next academic year.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to decide whether to axe graduate route visa

As per the industry data given to the government’s independent adviser on migration, after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak put restrictions on education visas, the number of international students paying deposits to study at UK universities has fallen sharply.

Ahead of the upcoming general election, PM Sunak is under pressure from the right of the Conservative party to axe the graduate route. The ministers are expected to announce a decision in this regard soon, as reported by the Financial Times.

The industry leaders have argued that any decision to axe the graduate route will have damaging effects on the sector that heavily relies on foreign fee income. After the graduate visa route was reintroduced in 2021, student migration to the UK reached a record high in 2022, with 484,000 sponsored study visas issued. It is an increase of 38% as compared to the previous year.

Universities write to govt to not abolish graduate visa route 

The removal of the graduate visa route can be extremely damaging for the sector worth £108bn a year. The universities are urging the government to reject any such plans.

As per the Guardian report, a joint letter by the Universities in the UK and Creative UK which represents the creative industries, urged the government to not axe the graduate visa route.

“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,” reads the letter. 

“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," added the letter.

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