The UK’s education secretary has committed to working with universities to continue to “expand and grow” international student numbers despite speculation her government is planning to place new limits on visas.
Students from overseas coming to the country to do degrees should be seen as a separate issue from other migration challenges such as people crossing the Channel on small boats, Gillian Keegan said at her first appearance at the House of Commons Education Select Committee following her appointment in October.
Asked about reports ministers may limit the number of visas issued so they are only given to those studying at top-tier universities, Ms Keegan said international students were a “huge economic contributor to the areas around a university but also to the country”.
