UK to Tighten Visa Rules for International Students

The UK government is weighing major changes to its graduate visa policy as part of broader efforts to curb net migration, sparking reported tensions between the Home Office and the Department for Education. According to The Financial Times, the proposed reforms would require international students to secure a graduate-level job to remain in the UK after completing their studies.

The Home Office is reportedly frustrated with what it sees as resistance from the education department, which it believes has encouraged Universities UK—the sector’s main representative body—to publicly oppose the changes.

“We’ve been tasked by the prime minister to reduce net migration, and we’re working to deliver that,” a Home Office official told FT, adding that it was “really frustrating” that the education department had “lobbied Universities UK to go out and fight this.”

Introduced in 2021, the current graduate visa allows international students to stay in the UK for up to two years after graduation, regardless of employment status. However, research from the Migration Advisory Committee found that over 60% of graduates on the scheme were earning below £30,000 after one year—below the typical graduate salary threshold.

The Department for Education, however, has voiced concerns that limiting this visa route could financially harm universities already under pressure. Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said reducing the scheme would be “madness,” noting that a single cohort of international students contributes £40 billion annually to the UK economy. She emphasized that the two-year visa period allows students time to gain experience and find employment.

Supporting its reform push, the Home Office cited data showing that in 2024, 40,000 asylum claims came from individuals who previously held UK visas, with around 40% being former student visa holders. Officials claim some of these cases involve fraud, with individuals transitioning from student and graduate visas to asylum claims and ending up in government-provided accommodation.

The Labour government, under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, is expected to release a white paper on migration policy next month, with changes to the graduate visa scheme likely to feature prominently.

Unlike the previous Conservative administration under Rishi Sunak, which opted for only modest changes due to concerns over higher education impacts, the new proposals may introduce stricter requirements.

A government spokesperson stated, “The Home Office and Department for Education are working closely to ensure an evidence-based approach that aligns migration policy with education and skills, avoiding reliance on immigration at the expense of domestic talent.” They added, “We will continue to welcome international students as a vital part of our world-class higher education system.”

Meanwhile, the education department said it “did not recognise” any disagreement with the Home Office over the proposed changes.