MIGRATION IN THE UK

Migration in the UK

Migration in the UK

Introduction

At least 27,000 foreigners studying in the UK were reported to the UK Border Agency between March 2011 and 2010. This is a considerable percentage of the 228,000 foreigners that came to UK for study last year. (Glover, 2011: 67) The figures have sparked debate over the role of educators in reported perceived visa breaches. Migration Club - a group that, according to its website, "campaigns against hyperregulation of everyday life" - argues it should not be the role of universities to monitor compliance with immigration laws. Visa rules have led to a massive extension of surveillance on campus, and a humiliating and hostile experience for international academics and student. The UK Government maintains that universities and colleges have a responsibility to ensure foreign students comply with immigration law. (Dobson, 2010: 75 )

Immigration in the UK in the last 10 years

Over the last 10 years, the number of people from outside the EEA and Switzerland given entry to the UK as students has increased by over 70%, from approximately 272,000 in 1999, to 468,000 in 20113. This is despite a reduction by half, of the number of institutions able to bring students from outside the EU to the UK when Tier 4 - the student tier - of the points-based system was introduced on 31 March 2011.

The UK's approach to international students coming to the UK has changed significantly in the last couple of years.

Under Labour, international students were an economic silver-bullet, a win-win for both the education sector and the broader economy, and as a result the Labour government introduced initiatives aimed at significantly increasing the number of international students coming to Britain. But the Coalition government sees the issue of international students rather differently, and this month (March 2011) announced plans that will, they say, reduce the number of student visas issued by 70-80,000.

There has, unsurprisingly, been significant opposition from universities, further education institutions and others. A series of reports pointed out that international students deliver significant economic benefits to Britain - estimates range from £3.48 bn (COMPAS breakfast briefing, October 2010) to £40bn annually (Home Affairs Select Committee report March 2011) depending on how you calculate them.

So, if students really are so valuable to the UK economy, why is the government trying to reduce their numbers?

One important reason is the target the government has committed to - reducing net migration “to the tens of thousands”. (Findlay, 2011: 104)

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) suggested last year that, since students comprise 60% of non-EU immigration, student migration needs to be responsible for 60% of the cut to net migration (assuming each route takes a proportional cut).

There were 253,845 student visas issued in 2010, with another 31,770 for dependents, but achieving cuts in net migration is much more complicated than just cutting the number of visas issued. There is a balancing act to be performed between numbers of people coming in and the number leaving - and even then, the figures ...