Today the Migration Advisory Committee’s report on the Graduate Route was published, with a letter to the Home Secretary. 

Dr Alex Bols, Deputy CEO of GuildHE said:

“We welcome the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendation that the Graduate Route remains in place in its current form.

The Graduate Route allows international students to stay and work in the UK upon graduation, contributing to the UK economy.

The MAC review shows there is no evidence of any significant abuse of the visa. International students enrich the UK educationally, culturally and economically.

A careful balance is needed by government between controlling immigration and delivering economic benefits for the UK. Reforms preventing most students bringing dependants and increasing skilled salary worker salary thresholds are already having an impact on reducing immigration. Any further changes at this point would risk over-correcting and putting the financial sustainability of universities and colleges at risk.

 

We therefore also welcome the MAC’s comments that any policy change would need to explain how the financial consequences for the higher education sector would be addressed and that any changes should consider the total impact of the policy change, not just its effect on net migration.”