UK visa policy damaging Scottish universities, say MSPs

The Scottish Parliament's Devolution (Further Powers) Committee has joined calls for the UK government to reconsider its decision to scrap the post-study work visa scheme.

In a press release on 13 February, Bruce Crawford, MSP for Stirling and convenor of the Devolution Committee, said, “A clear consensus has emerged from across the political parties in Scotland and from colleges, universities and business organisations, that the UK government visa scheme is not delivering for Scotland.”

The committee, Crawford said, felt there was “robust evidence” that identified the UK government’s decision to remove the post-study work-visa scheme as a “major factor” in Scotland falling behind competitor countries in attracting international students.