International students visa rules become more hard. HE providers entry is becoming more difficult. International universities have great attraction for students.
The UK, Canada, and Australia, three of the world’s largest HE providers. They are working to change their international student entry techniques. On the domestic front, there are obvious reasons for problematic policy obstacles. From domestic attitudes towards migration to housing shortages. Governments face a difficult balancing act.
The UK is re-evaluating its Graduate route visa. And classifying the number of students. As ‘over-migratory’. Canada announced a temporary cap on the number of students. To address ‘sustainable’ migration. Australia perplexes and is looking at what its education minister called ‘spicy ideas’. But why are major providers making such dramatic policy changes at the same time? And what is driving this trend?
Has there been a global shift towards stricter international student regulations?
Old Tensions Come To a Point
Old tensions resurface Patterns don’t happen by accident. The Trump presidency has brought international students into the political fray. As the White House has chosen to fight with specific countries. On migration and security issues. In the UK, more conservative groups have long been pushing for student caps. In a report in 2020, think tank Onward argued for international student caps on the grounds. That universities had become ‘too reliant on them’. At the heart of their argument was the need for universities. To be ‘resilient’ and not ‘over-dependent’. Research tells reliance on overseas students is a sign of financial instability. And represents over-reliance on China. The report also raised fears that international students were replacing local students. Because international students pay higher fees. There is an incentive for universities to favour them over local students. While the critics may have focused on security issues, the issue of over-reliance is now at the top of the agenda.
While the focus may have been on safety, the over-dependency argument is now top of mind. The UK’s reliance on international student fees as the main source of university revenue. It has become a major bone of contention between the sector and policy makers. Universities want more international students and policy makers want fewer. This has resulted in sky-high operating costs.
Immigration Politics, Different Stories
British politics has dragged students into already acrimonious immigration debates. In late 2023, Home Secretary James Cleverly called for a ‘review of the Graduate Route’. To ‘prevent abuse’ and ‘safeguard the integrity and quality’. Of Britain’s ‘outstanding higher education sector’. As part of a wider immigration strategy. Net migration until June 2023 stood at 672,000 – lower. Than the level of December 2022, but higher than the target set by the Home Office. The announcement came at the same time. As a controversial hike in the salary thresholds for immigrant workers. With the threshold now set at £38,700, rather than £26,200. Meaning that many international graduates are effectively barred from entry level graduate roles. The pressure on the Graduate Route has the potential to hit international enrolments hard. “Promoting post-study work isn’t just a nice to have. It’s a key factor in determining whether or not a family investment decision is made,”. Ian Chrichton wrote in a recent article on HEPI.
We call on the government. To continue to support policies. That are vital to the UK’s reputation as a ‘go-anywhere’ place to study. Why capping student numbers seems like a short-term political solution.
According to a BBC Report on the Government’s Failure. To Live Up to Its Immigration Control Promises. International students make up 606,000 out of the 1.405,000 visas issued in 2023, which is almost as much as work visas. However, what the figures don’t show is that students generally only stay a few years. And don’t make up 600,000 new LTRs in the UK. Whilst some will stay for longer to work. They only make up a fraction of the total number of international students in the world.
Australia Faces a Twin Challenge
Public pressure to control its international student intake. And a pressing need to address a labour shortage. Last year in April, the Australian Federal Government launched a reform of its immigration system. Including student immigration. Home Affairs Minister Claire O’Neil said that the current system was not designed to address Australia’s worst labour shortage since World War II.
Australia’s Education Minister, Jason Clare, has said the Migration Strategy changes “ensure higher ethical standards and ensure high quality education” and “ensure sustainable international education growth”.
Like the UK, Australia also needed to deal with salary thresholds on visas. Last year, the salary threshold was set at $53,900. Unlike the UK, where politicians faced a backlash for disproportionately high thresholds. Australia’s low threshold means graduates can qualify. Even if they don’t land the jobs that are relevant to their field of study. In Canada, the problem appears to be over-achievement. Just after the UK tightened visa regulation, Canada followed suit in January. The government announced a $360,000 cap on study permits, 35% lower than in 2023.
Students Also Have Feeling
Education and its quality is important but location is also attractive for students. revenue options like Australia suggested fee concession may give relaxation in financial difficulties. It creates questions about political feasibility and long time relationship. According the report of Universities Accord interim report “Australia’s research excellence is well known, but it is built on uncertain financial foundations… [These] cause us to miss opportunities to adapt, develop and localise knowledge to the benefit of industry, communities and the wider economy. Perverse financial incentives can cause institutions to make funding-driven rather than mission driven choices,”
Conclusion
Every educational institute needs money to give its services. University and students are part of a community. All students from locality and community are part of it. Hence introducing strict rules is improving and balancing act. If you travel anywhere you have risk to lose your money. Strictness is very important to save students.