UK To Ban Foreign Students From Bringing Dependents Unless For ‘High-Value’ Degrees

The United Kingdom intends to limit the entry of international students’ family members, such as spouses and children, except for those pursuing “high-value” degrees. The high-value degrees are degrees in science, mathematics, and engineering, according to a news report by The Times.

The number of dependents accompanying international students has increased almost eightfold in Britain. According to UK immigration statistics, 486,868 students were granted visas in 2022, accompanied by 135,788 dependents, including spouses and children.

As per the news report, the UK government is considering limiting the entry of families of international students unless they pursue higher education, such as a Master’s or Ph.D. degree.

Nigerians have witnessed the highest surge in UK study visas, reaching a record high of 65,929 in 2022, an increase of 57,545 (+686%) from 2019. In the current year, Nigerians are now the third-largest group of international students by nationality.

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The report also stated that the backlog of asylum applications had reached a record high, with over 160,000 migrants awaiting decisions on their cases. It also mentioned that the government still needs to decide on the issue.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has drafted proposals to decrease migration into the UK, including reducing the period for international students to stay in Britain after completing their course. However, the Department of Education has expressed concerns that the proposed restrictions may financially cripple UK universities that rely on international students as a significant source of income.

There are estimates that international students contribute £35 billion annually to the UK economy.

New Way Consultancy reported that international students and their dependents contribute to the UK economy through tuition fees ranging from £10,000 to £26,000 and through an NHS yearly surcharge of £400 for students and £600 for each dependent.

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This proposal is new in the line of suggestions made by Braverman to reduce migration into the UK. She suggested amending the graduate visa by reducing the period that international students can remain in the country after completing their studies to six months from the current two-year duration.

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