Cutting the number of international students coming to the UK is not a popular policy with the general public, according to polling conducted for Universities UK.
The survey of more than 2,000 adults, run by Public First, finds that 64 per cent of respondents would like to see the number of overseas learners in the UK increase or stay the same. About one in five – 21 per cent – wants the total to decrease.
The findings come amid reports that the home secretary, Suella Braverman, is looking at ways to reduce the number of international students coming to the UK, potentially by reducing the time that overseas students can remain in the UK after completing their courses to work from two years to six months.
However, only 9 per cent of respondents felt that overseas students should be discouraged from coming to the UK, compared with 42 per cent who felt they should be encouraged.
