UEA's Vice Chancellor warns number of foreign students could "significantly" fall next year
Most international students can no longer bring family members to the UK
UEA's Vice Chancellor is warning the number of foreign students coming to university could be "significantly reduced" next year, due stricter rules on bringing over family members to the country.
It's as thousands are coming down to Norwich during this week, to celebrate those who are graduating this year.
"Fees that they pay are higher than what's paid by domestic students"
Professor David Maguire is Vice Chancellor at the University of East Anglia: "About a quarter of our entire student body comes from outside of the UK.
"The fees that they pay are higher than what's paid by domestic students, therefore it's funding that allows us to cross-subsidise home undergraduates and post-graduates, as well as some of our research.
"Our finances overall are now looking much more positive, after a shaky period a year or so ago. We have a three year plan and we're slightly ahead of where we want to be, after a year. There's still work to do though."
What's changed on student visas?
From 1 January 2024, action taken under Rishi Sunak's government means that most international students can now no longer bring family members to the UK.
The changes mean that international students starting courses this month will no longer be able to bring family members on all but postgraduate research courses and courses with government-funded scholarships.
The changes, first announced last May, have also seen people banned from using the student visa as a route to work in the UK.
Then Home Secretary, James Cleverly, said that official estimates predicted these changes would mean 140,000 fewer people would come to the UK.
Current Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has previously said a Labour government would recognise the “major contribution” made by international students to the UK economy and be led by evidence about its impact on immigration.
However, no changes have yet been made to the recent changes.