Removing high fee-paying international students from migration data has been a long-standing demand by the higher education sector, since the post-2010 curbs have led to negative perceptions abroad and an over 50% drop in the number of Indian students. A spokesperson for Universities UK, the umbrella organisation for all UK universities, said: “Two official reports published last summer revealed that there is very high visa compliance by international students. “Polling has shown that the British public does not see international students as long-term migrants, but as valuable, temporary visitors. There is now an opportunity to make sure that a reshaped, post-Brexit immigration system encourages qualified international students to choose the UK,” it said. It still remains difficult for non-EU students to secure employment and switch visa categories, but the extension is seen as a positive development.

Source: Hindustan Times February 04, 2018 15:11 UTC