James Cleverly instructs Migration Advisory Committee to look at possible abuse of graduate route
Home secretary James Cleverly has ordered the Migration Advisory Committee to conduct a “rapid review” of the graduate route visa.
In a letter dated 11 March, Cleverly says that UK universities’ reputation for quality could “easily be put at risk if evidence emerges of immigration abuse or visa exploitation which are not tackled”.
The graduate route visa permits students to remain in the UK for two years after graduation, or three years if they complete a PhD. Cleverly announced in December that there would be a review of post-study work visas as part of the government’s plans to reduce immigration.
In his letter, the home secretary says that while the graduate route has helped to attract “bright international students to the UK and to work in our economy post-study”, he wants to ensure that it is not being abused.
“In particular, that some of the demand for study visas is not being driven more by a desire for immigration rather than education,” he writes. A report from the committee shows that the number of postgraduate international students attending institutions with the lowest entry requirements—based on Ucas tariff quartiles—increased by 250 per cent between 2018 and 2022, he says. Roughly a third of international students are at lower-tariff providers.
“We are keen to understand the drivers behind this, including whether it is because people are using these courses as a long-term route to work in the UK,” Cleverly says. Many international students transfer to a skilled worker visa from the graduate route visa, although the government is increasing the salary threshold for the skilled worker visa from £26,200 to £38,700.
Cleverly states that the review should be carried out with the support of former University of Exeter vice-chancellor Steve Smith, the government’s international education champion. Cleverly has ordered the review to be completed by 14 May.
Universities UK chief executive Vivienne Stern has described the graduate route visa as “an essential part of the UK’s offer to prospective students”.
“Many of our competitors have something more attractive,” she added. “Universities will…be concerned at the potential impact of changes to skilled salary thresholds and the shortage occupation list. This could impact universities’ ability to attract global talent, in disciplines ranging from civil and mechanical engineers to lab technicians and IT specialists.”
Stern has urged ministers to “put to bed the suggestion that this visa will be scrapped”.
What will the review consider?
Cleverly has suggested five areas the Migration Advisory Committee might look at:
- Any evidence of abuse of the route, including the route not being fit for purpose.
- Who is using the route and from what universities they graduated.
- Demographics and trends for students gaining a study visa and subsequently accessing the UK labour market by means of the graduate route.
- What individuals do during and after their time on the graduate route and whether students who progress to the graduate route are contributing to the economy.
- Whether the graduate route is undermining the integrity and quality of the UK higher education system, including whether it is effectively controlling for the quality of international students.