The UK government has recently announced a new policy that will affect many international students who wish to study in the country. Starting from January 2024, only international students who are enrolled in postgraduate research courses (such as research-based doctoral programs and research-based master’s programmes) will be able to bring their family members (including spouses, children and elderly parents) with them as dependants . This means that thousands of students who are pursuing other types of courses, such as undergraduate degrees or taught master’s degrees, will have to leave their families behind or find alternative ways to support them.
The government claims that this policy is part of its plan to reduce net migration, which is expected to reach a record high of over 700,000 this year. The Home Office estimates that since 2019, there has been an eightfold increase in the number of visas granted to dependants of international students, rising from 16,000 to 136,000. The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said that the government intends to work with universities to design an alternative approach that ensures that the best and brightest students can bring dependants to the UK’s world-leading universities, while continuing to reduce net migration.
However, this policy has been met with criticism and concern from various stakeholders, including students, universities, education agents and immigration experts. Some of the arguments against the policy are:
– It will harm the UK’s reputation as a welcoming and diverse destination for international students, who contribute significantly to the economy, culture and research of the country.
– It will create hardship and stress for many students who will have to choose between their education and their family, or face separation and isolation from their loved ones .
– It will affect the quality and diversity of the UK’s research output, as many talented and qualified students may opt for other countries that offer more family-friendly policies.
– It will not have a significant impact on net migration, as most dependants of international students do not stay permanently in the UK or access public services .