Response to new ONS and Home Office migration data

28 November 2024

Responding to new data from the ONS and Home Office on migration figures, including data on study visas, a spokesperson from the Russell Group said:

"The latest figures confirm that changes to immigration rules introduced by the previous government, alongside other global factors, have driven international student numbers down significantly. Campuses across the UK will miss out on the enriching diversity of experiences and perspectives that international students bring. The economic impact will also be substantial, risking fewer opportunities for home students, less spending in local communities and more pressure on R&D budgets – and this dataset may not yet show the full extent of the impact.

"With international students contributing £37.4bn to the UK economy every year, reversing this downward trend will be crucial to the government’s growth mission. The positive tone taken by the Education Secretary and other senior ministers towards international students is very welcome and has already been well received in key overseas markets. Paired with a new, ambitious international strategy for higher education and consistent visa policies, this can make a big difference in signalling that the UK remains a welcoming destination for students.

"Polling shows cutting international student numbers is not an immigration priority for the public. People across the UK recognise the value these students bring to their local economy and our society. Working with universities to support responsible recruitment in what remains a very difficult landscape is one of the best ways government can support the UK skills base, fund research and drive growth in every part of the country."

Notes:

• Today’s ONS release shows a 20% fall year-on-year in net migration to the UK for the year end June 2024, with the ONS citing declining numbers of dependents on study visas as the biggest factor.
• Home Office data for the most recent four quarters (the last three months of which are not yet covered in ONS data) also shows a 19% decrease year-on-year in international students to the UK. There were 365,599 applications for student visas in the year ending 2024 Q3, down from 451,259 in the year ending 2023 Q3.
• The 2021/22 intake of international students brought a total net benefit of £37.4bn to the UK economy, according to research by London Economics published by UUKi, HEPI and Kaplan International Pathways.
• Russell Group polling carried out by Survation in May 2024 found just 1% of the public think government should prioritise reducing immigration by cutting international student numbers. Six in 10 (60%) people in the UK feel international students bring significant benefit to the economy, while only around one in 10 (12%) disagree, according to recent research by the Policy Institute at King’s College London.

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