The newly elected government of the United Kingdom (UK) has announced that it will maintain the existing restrictions on student visas.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed in a television interview that the Labour Party has no plans to lift the visa restrictions imposed on international students by the previous Rishi Sunak government.
In January, Sunak’s administration introduced several restrictions aimed at preventing most international students from bringing dependents with them to the UK.
Following the elections, there was speculation that the new government might ease its stance on international students; however, the education secretary has made it clear that there are no intentions to reverse these measures.
Phillipson acknowledged the significant contributions of international students, emphasizing that welcoming them allows the UK to create a global impact and strengthen business and trade relationships.
Regarding tuition fees, the minister stated that increasing them would be “unpalatable,” especially as students across the UK continue to face challenges such as the cost of living and housing expenses.
“I recognize the challenge, and I hear that message from institutions as well, but I think that’s an unpalatable thing to be considering,” Phillipson said in an interview with Sky News.
The education secretary also mentioned that the government plans to reform the overall system, though specific details have yet to be disclosed.
It is worth noting that recent data from the Home Office shows a 40 percent decline in sponsored study visa applications, indicating that the visa restrictions implemented under Sunak’s leadership have had a significant impact.
Figures from June also reveal that the restrictions are affecting international student numbers. The Home Office received only 28,200 applications in June, a sharp decrease from the 38,900 applications received in the same month last year.
