International Students in the UK

Jon Simmons

Home Office Science:

Migration and Border Analysis

Notable rise in student migrant numbers since 2008

2Source: ONS International Passenger Survey

Long-term international immigration to the UK by main reason for migration

Both Non-EU and EU student migration are rising.....

3

Inflows of those migrating for formal study, 2005-10

Source: ONS: International Passenger Survey

....with India and China supplying the most students from outside the European Union

4

Non-EU student (and student dependant) arrivals in 2010

Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics

Half of non-EU students study at non-HE institutions.....

5Source: Home Office Occasional Paper 90: Overseas students in the immigration system

......while the majority of non-EU students at Universities are postgraduates.....

Source: Home Office Occasional Paper 90: Overseas students in the immigration system

.....whereas those at privately funded HE/FE institutions are mainly studying at below degree level

7Source: Home Office Occasional Paper 90: Overseas students in the immigration system

China has the highest stock of students in publicly funded HEI’s, and the fastest growing number

8

Stocks of non-EU students in publicly funded HEI’s from 2008/09 to 2010/11

Source: HESA

The highest number of non-EU students are Chinese and Indian

Most Indians (85%) are postgraduates but Chinese students are more evenly split

Around three-quarters of Hong Kong and Malaysian students are undergraduates

One in five non-EEA students remain in the system five years after first being granted a student visa......

9

Source: Home Office Migrant Journey Second Report

The 2004 cohort – immigration status in 2009, five years after their initial visa, by route

185,600 students in 2004 cohort were granted student visas

79% had left the immigration system within 5 years;-15% had transferred to other routes, mainly work- 3% had obtained settlement- 6% were still students

.....and for some important nationalities this proportion doubles.

10

Source: Home Office Migrant Journey Second Report

Student visas granted in 2004 and their immigration status at end of 2009 – highest volume countries

Foreign students are keen to remain in the UK after graduation, and many do so

Future plans

Overall China India USA Malaysia Nigeria Canada Pakistan Hong Kong

2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010

Seek short term

employment in UK

37%

(2,262)33% 46% 36% 37% 45% 33% 46% 29%

Seek long term

employment in UK

45%

(2,305)32% 55% 42% 51% 54% 33% 63% 41%

Undertake further

study in UK

49%

(2,296)43% 39% 29% 55% 69% 32% 56% 42%

Apply for

permanent

residence in UK

29%

(2,287)25% 27% 24% 30% 39% 14% 47% 31%

11

Likelihood of 2010 graduates to undertake various activities in next 5 years, by nationality

Source: Tracking International Graduate Outcomes 2011, i-graduate (for Department for Business, Innovation and Skills)

Of the 6% who were still students after 5 years, a third were studying at undergraduate level or below

12

Long term students: Study route sample by level of study

Source: Home Office Migrant Journey Second report (case file analysis)

UK Border Agency has found issues with compliance amongst students

Privately funded HE/FE institutions

Publicly funded HE/FE institutions

English Language schools

Enrolled on course and continuing to study

39% 47% 65%

Regularised their stay or left the country

12% 15% 15%

Did not enter having been issued with a visa letter or a CAS

23% 30% 6%

Had no record of leaving the country and did not have a valid reason to remain (potentially ‘non-compliant’)

26% 8% 14%

Total 100%(1,191 respondents)

100%(2,397 respondents)

100%(2,060 respondents)

13

Students’ compliance by type of sponsoring institution

Source: Home Office Occasional Paper 90: Overseas students in the immigration system

UK Border Agency enforcement arrests of student visa holders increased in 2010...

14

Number of Tier 4 visa arrests by enforcement; Sept 2009 – Nov 2010

Source: Home Office: Points-based system Tier 4 attendance at privately funded colleges; Annex: Background Information

...and student visa holders were responsible for 13.5% of asylum claims matched to a visa in 2010

15

Asylum applications matched to PBS T4 (General) Student Visas

Source: Home Office: Points-based system Tier 4 attendance at privately funded colleges; Annex: Background Information