While the continuation of the two-year graduate route and rogue agent crackdowns were a welcome sign, stakeholders have called the government’s ban on dependants of postgraduate-taught course students “deeply disappointing”.
One leading figure pointed out that this would likely have an adverse impact on not just net migration figures, but on student numbers themselves.
“We are deeply disappointed to see this policy take effect to end the right to bring dependants for those on postgraduate taught courses,” said AnneMarie Graham, chief executive of UKCISA.
“This policy will also disproportionately affect potential international students who are unable to travel with dependants and will mean that they choose to study elsewhere,” she warned.
