Universities UK response to government release on international student visas

Responding to this afternoon's statement from the Home Office and Department for Education on international student visas, which confirmed there would be no change in relation to the graduate visa, Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said:

“It is a huge relief to have confirmation from Government that the graduate route remains in place.  

“We share the Government's commitment to tackling any abuse of the visa system and support efforts to tighten restrictions on agents, which are in line with much of what we have proposed. We will work diligently with Government to ensure we maintain a high level of trust and confidence in the way universities recruit and support international students. It is in all our interests that we do so, given the enormous value that international students bring to the whole of the UK, and not just to universities themselves. What we need now is a period of stability, and a shared commitment to delivering a stable and well managed international student landscape.”