International students ‘biggest driver’ of net migration increase

Migration Advisory Committee also says graduate visa route supports “low-wage” work

An increase in the number of student visas issued is the “largest single factor” accounting for recent increases in net migration, the Migration Advisory Committee has said.

In a report published on 13 December, the committee—an independent body that advises the government—said that the total number of student visas issued in 2022 was 623,700, up from 404,400 in 2019.