Access to UK universities cannot be taken for granted; it has taken centuries for the working class, women and migrants from developing nations to be matriculated. My PhD study explores how ‘socially-just’ young-student-motherhood is; personal experiences are intertwined with inquiries of social, cultural and economic structures and herstorical legacies of women’s place in the academy and the home. As I heard of Home Office plans to remove dependent student visas, I was struck by the parallels between the ways young mothers and migrants are demonised and legislated against. The requirement doesn’t put a strain on the public purse (see the Universal Credit Regulations, 2013 / Immigration Rules) and the proposed change echoes the ongoing individualisation of parenting responsibility. The absence of student-parents in universities’ equality, participation and justice agendas reflects the ongoing privatisation of family life.
The government’s International Education Strategy in 2019 set out plans to meet the demands of a global higher education market by increasing the number of international students choosing to study in the UK. Part of the strategy focused on providing supportive and welcoming environments; however, from 2024 the removal of dependent student visas means parents will effectively be marginalised from the offer.
International students pay around £27,000 per academic year to study in the UK in addition to an annual contribution to the NHS of around £4,000; a charge paid again for each dependent. Hours available for paid employment are restricted but wages remain subject to tax and national insurance, further contributing to the NHS. I am no economist but know my colleagues who bring their children with them to study here from overseas contribute a great deal to the local and national economy; financing housing and living costs together with any leisure activities.
