Indian students may benefit from UK move

LONDON: The prospect of the UK actually leaving the EU by March 29, 2019 is shrouded in a haze of politics and bureaucracy, but a soon-to-be introduced immigration will likely benefit Indian students keen to study here..

The bill, which will be introduced in the House of Commons later this year, will be the occasion to address a key issue that has bedevilled the discourse of international students. It will likely face an amendment to remove international students from net migration figures, making them less likely to face measures to restrict overall migration. There are already signs of some restrictions on them being eased.

Considering the student component as migrants and subjecting it to steps to restrict migration has not only led to an around 50% drop of Indian students since 2010, but has also led to the impression that the UK no longer welcomes international students.

Three factors have led to the growing cross-party consensus that non-EU students should not be part of the net migration target — official reports reveal most international students return after studies, the need to project a global outlook post-Brexit, and the Theresa May government’s dependence on outside support to remain in office.

A spokesperson for Universities UK, the umbrella organisation for all British universities, told HT: “Two official reports published last summer revealed that there is very high visa compliance by international students. The number of students overstaying their visas is a tiny fraction of previous (incorrect) claims.

“If UK wants to remain a top destination for international students and staff, it is more important than ever that we project a welcoming message to talented people from across the world.”

As home secretary since 2010 and now as prime minister, May has resisted the demand to remove non-EU students from the migration target, but newer realities in parliament and compulsions of Brexit are likely to lead to a reconsideration of the key issue.