The UK government has introduced stricter immigration policies that will directly impact international students and universities. These changes are part of a broader effort to reduce annual net migration by 100,000, as per the white paper released by the Home Office.

A significant measure is the introduction of a 6% levy on tuition fees paid by international students. According to the estimates from Universities UK, universities will be required to pay this levy to the government, potentially raising an estimated ?600 million per year. The levy is intended to shift financial responsibility for migration away from the taxpayer and towards the institutions that benefit economically from international enrolments.

The settlement eligibility timeline will also be extended. Currently, foreign nationals can apply for permanent settlement in the UK after five years. Under the new policy, the minimum residency requirement will double to ten years. According to a report by The Times, this move will affect around 1.5 million people and is intended to reduce the number of migrants permanently settling in the UK.

Another major change includes the reduction of the Graduate Route visa duration from two years to 18 months. This visa allows international students to remain in the UK after completing their studies to find graduate-level work. Under the new rule, if graduates do not secure suitable employment within this shortened period, they will be required to leave the country.

Universities across the UK have raised concerns that these changes could hurt their competitiveness. Many institutions rely on revenue from overseas students to fund operations and research, especially as domestic funding remains limited. The changes are expected to force universities to re-evaluate recruitment strategies and financial planning.

The government, however, maintains that the changes are necessary. Ministers argue that the Graduate Route has been used by students from lower-ranked institutions to remain in the UK without contributing significantly to the economy. The Home Office is expected to publish data this summer detailing which universities send the most students through the Graduate Route.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has supported the approach, saying it is time for a ?more controlled and focused? immigration system that serves both the UK?s economy and public interest. (Economic times)

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