UKIBC thoughts on the Immigration White Paper: “Restoring Control over Immigration”

UKIBC acknowledges the financial contribution of more than £40bn per annum, made by international students to the UK’s economy, adding cultural diversity and building relationship between UK and rest of the world. UK must foster a welcoming environment for the international students offering a supportive and inclusive environment.

In consultation with our members and clients from the Higher education sector, UKIBC supports robust but fair visa regulation, strengthening Quality Assurance Framework for agents, and urges the government to engage constructively with the sector to ensure international education remains a strategic strength for the UK.

However, UKIBC shares its concern over proposed changes to the Graduate Immigration Route (GIR), warning that reducing its duration from 24 to 18 months could significantly impact the UK’s appeal to international students, particularly from India — UK’s largest student recruitment market. With shifts in govt. funding, and 43% of UK universities* faced deficits in the 2023–24 academic year, and any decline in international student enrolments would further jeopardise the financial stability and recovery prospects of many UK universities.

Additionally, the proposed 6% levy on international student tuition fees could place additional financial strain on universities and further burden international students, who already pay significantly higher fees than domestic peers. This move risks undermining the UK’s global competitiveness in higher education and could deter prospective students from choosing the UK as a study destination.

Finally, UKIBC urges a collaborative approach to the proposed Immigration reforms and highlights the need for UK universities to strengthen their global Industry links, including those with the Indian employers. UKIBC is committed to supporting this effort, helping connect UK universities with Indian corporates and employers — a strategic need now more than ever.