Higher education sector unites on calls to protect the Graduate Route

13 May 2024

In a joint letter to the Home Secretary, university bodies including the Russell Group have urged the Government to recognise that reforms to student immigration are already having an impact, and that any further changes risk undermining the success of the UK’s higher education sector.

Coming ahead of today's Migration Advisory Committee's report following their rapid review of the Graduate visa route, the letter also points to new research, finding that the provision of education to international students is one of the country’s most successful export sectors - contributing £42bn to the economy in 2021/22. The benefits of this are felt across the UK, with each constituency benefitting by £58m on average.

Co-ordinated by the British Universities International Liaison Association (BUILA), the letter has been signed by sector bodies including the Russell Group, Independent Higher Education (IHE), MillionPlus, the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), University Alliance and Universities UK International (UUKi).

Read the full letter and find out more in our Graduate Route briefing.

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