75% of Brits say foreign students aren’t immigrants
Published 14/10/2016
Only one-quarter of British adults think of international students as immigrants, new research from UUK has shown, and a whopping 91% believe international students should be able to stay and work for some time after studying in the UK.
The survey, in which the majority of respondents also indicated they are happy with incoming international student numbers, suggests the public is at odds with the government’s strategy of cracking down on foreign students as a means to curb net migration.
Three-quarters of the respondents to the survey, commissioned by Universities UK and carried our by ComRes, said they would like to see international student numbers remain the same or increase.
“These findings are a clear indication that reducing the number of overseas students will not address public concerns over immigration”
This figure jumped to 87% once information on the economic benefits of international students – which include adding an annual £10.7bn to the UK economy and supporting 170,000 jobs in local communities – was provided.
And of those that expressed a view, 81% said they believe international students have a positive impact on the local economies and towns where they study.
Because of these benefits, 71% of respondents that expressed a view said they would support a policy to enhance economic growth by increasing overseas students. In contrast, just 7% said they would strongly oppose such a policy.
“These findings are a clear indication that any new policies aimed at lowering net migration figures by reducing the number of overseas students will not address public concerns over immigration,” commented Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK.
“It is very clear that a majority of the public recognises that international students are valuable, temporary visitors that make an important economic and cultural contribution to the UK.”
Dandridge also pointed to the UK’s competitor study destinations that have strategies to grow inbound student mobility – Australia, the US and Canada – to highlight the contrast between policy affecting international students in the UK and elsewhere.
“The negative economic impact of a reduction in international student numbers would be felt by local communities across the UK,” she added, and nodded to the ‘soft power’ links with other countries forged by alumni.
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