When we talk about foreign education, the UK has been a top choice for students worldwide. In addition to superior quality education, students also get to experience the diversity of cultures, limitless opportunities to excel professionally, and access to best-in-class infrastructure and advanced medical facilities; that are not very progressive in their home countries.

Moreover, the students who migrate for higher studies have always majorly given back to the UK in more ways than one. From making significant developments in various sectors across the nation to making substantial investments and, most importantly, upscaling the UK's economy. So, if we look at this picture on a macro level, the UK gains multiple benefits from foreign student intake.

On the contrary, the latest news surfacing on the web is, the recently elected Indian-origin PM of the UK, Rishi Sunak is, however, considering implying restrictions on foreign students to curb migration. This is a massive lash-out at Indian students in particular who are presently in the UK and also the ones who are planning to study in the UK.

According to the current UK Immigration Statistics Report, Indians have surpassed the Chinese to become the largest international student population in the UK. The data says, there were 1,17,965 student visas granted to Indian nationals in the year ending June 2022, an increase of 80,569 (215%). Compared to 2019. In total, there were 4,86,868 sponsored study visas granted, which is an increase of 71% since 2019.

Here’s what we know so far about Rishi Sunak’s much-discussed policies that making headlines
In an effort to reduce net migration, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hinted at possible measures to crack down on foreign students enrolling in "low-quality" degrees
There have been allegations that the action would bankrupt several universities in the UK
This would entail restricting visas for dependents of students as well as admission to prestigious UK universities
People arriving on study visas accounted for the largest proportion of long-term immigration of non-EU nationals, at 277,000, or 39% of the total, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
The government has promised to cut net migration - the difference between the numbers entering and leaving the UK
Home Secretary Ms. Braverman has said she wants to revive a repeatedly missed target to reduce net migration to below 100,000

Given the lack of skilled workers in the UK, the National Union of Students (NUS) stated that it would be "laughable" if the government made it more difficult for foreign students to study in the UK.

How such policies might affect inward immigration for the students who aspire to study abroad?
Ms. Falguni Parekh, a UK-qualified solicitor, who has been practicing UK Immigration & Nationality Laws for over 15 years expressed her rather contrasting views on the UK government’s anticipated changes to the clauses of the UK Student Visa.

“Education sector is of immense importance to both countries, however, if such policies are implemented, the UK will see a dramatic drop in Indian students migrating to the UK for higher studies.

There was a similar situation in 2017, with a sharp decline in the number of highly-qualified students who had to return back to India after their course completion due to Britain’s unsupportive visa policies.
Due to having no work experience in the UK, the students had a hard time finding a suitable job in India that offered them a handsome package so they could pay off their student loans. A UK Student Visa is as it is for a very limited time and students are not allowed to take up any full-time employment, which restricts their work opportunities.

After facing much backlash, the UK government introduced the Graduate Visa or popularly known as the “Post Study Work Visa” in July 2021. A Graduate Visa permits the students to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing a course in the UK. And in order to be eligible to switch to the UK Graduate Visa, the student has to already be in the UK on a Student Visa.

Making the Graduate Visa operational ended the entire hassle and stress of the students to return to their home countries and further make a work permit application. This resulted in UK universities being in great demand as students applied in massive numbers for a UK Student Visa.

However, there are speculations making rounds that the new UK government might permanently shut down the Graduate Visa. This will consequently bring down UK’s economy and students will have to suffer once again”.