As the UK welcomes record numbers of international students, our understanding of their true value has never been more blinkered. They are too often regarded in media and political debate as convenient sources of revenue at best, and challenging additions to immigration figures at worst.
The financial contribution is undeniably significant. The hundreds of thousands of international students who come to the UK bring with them £25.9 billion annually to the UK economy through fees and spending. They are attracted here by a world-class education system, including a leading, global creative education sector.
Writing, in an open letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, in response to her plans to restrict visas to international students, Universities UK spelled out what was at stake financially to the country. UUK makes a compelling evidence-based case that education, as one of the UK’s “premier export industries” would be under threat should she pursue such policies. The hard reality is that many universities would face financial collapse without the huge contribution made by international students. Domestic fees would certainly have to go up and higher education will become increasingly unattainable for many young people in this country.
However, this picture of economic harm across the board conceals perhaps greater, much deeper long-term damage to the country and misses what I regard as the true value of students who come to the UK to study.
