UK Think Tank Calls for Crackdown on International Student Visas

A new report by leading UK policy think tank Policy Exchange has sparked fresh debate over the scale and purpose of international student migration. Titled “Education Not Immigration: Reforming the UK’s International Student Regime”, the report warns that Britain’s higher education sector has become a significant driver of migration and calls for urgent reforms to restore academic integrity and control visa abuse.

According to the report, international students are now the largest contributor to net migration, with 425,000 student visas issued in the last year — representing 43 per cent of all non-travel visas granted by the Home Office.

The publication comes at a time when the UK Government is already pushing forward a broader reset of its immigration system, aiming to bring down record-high net migration figures while encouraging domestic workforce growth and education reform.

Student Visas Becoming Pathways to Permanent Stay

The report highlights that 40 per cent of student visa holders in 2023 switched to another visa within 12 months of arrival — a dramatic increase from just 3 per cent in 2019. It also notes that 15 per cent of current asylum seekers in the UK initially entered on student visas.

Policy Exchange argues that these patterns reflect a systemic failure to separate education-based migration from broader immigration goals, leading to misuse of the student visa system as a stepping stone to permanent settlement.

British Students “Crowded Out” as International Numbers Soar

Citing data from institutions including Oxford, Southampton, Coventry, and East London, the report claims that universities are prioritising international students for financial gain, while reducing opportunities for domestic applicants.

This practice, it states, undermines the principle of equal access to higher education and places additional strain on already limited campus resources.

The report also questions the academic quality of some institutions, noting that 18 per cent of universities reported never having an international student fail their internal English language assessment, raising concerns over declining admission standards.

Limited Economic Benefit, Rising Fiscal Risk

While international students are often credited with cross-subsidising domestic education and research, the report found that the average value of this subsidy at lower-tier universities is only £2,900 per student — far less than previously assumed.

It also warns that proposals to reopen student loans to EU nationals under a new Youth Mobility Scheme could cost the UK Treasury £2 billion in unrecoverable loan debt within five years.

Policy Recommendations: Scrap Graduate Route, Introduce New Levy

Policy Exchange recommends the following measures:

• Abolition of the Graduate Visa route, which currently allows international students to remain in the UK for two years post-study.

• Introduction of a £1,000 annual levy on all international students, with exemptions for students at top-tier universities.

• Stricter English language testing requirements, to be assessed independently rather than by the institutions themselves.

The report urges the Government to refocus the UK’s education export model toward academic excellence, rather than immigration incentives.

David Goodhart: “A Backdoor for Uncontrolled Migration”

In a foreword to the report, commentator and Policy Exchange fellow David Goodhart described the findings as “a shocking indictment” of the current regime.

“Britain’s higher education sector has evolved into a backdoor for unprecedented levels of migration that is neither beneficial, short term, nor controlled,” he writes. “This report should serve as a rallying call for those who value a balanced, well-regulated system that genuinely supports UK society.”

National Coverage and Political Momentum

The report has gained swift media attention, with coverage in The Times, The Telegraph, Daily Mail, City A.M., and The Independent. It is expected to influence upcoming parliamentary discussions on student migration and visa reform.

With the Government already moving to tighten skilled worker visa rules and cut overall migration numbers, further restrictions on student migration — including potential changes to the Graduate Visa and admissions criteria — may be on the horizon.