Home Secretary James Cleverly expressed concerns that international students may be exploiting university courses to obtain work visas, potentially undermining the quality of the UK higher education system. He requested the Migration Advisory Committee to investigate whether the graduate visa entitlement, allowing international students to work after graduating, is attracting the “brightest and the best.” However, university leaders fear restricting the graduate visa route could lead to a decline in international recruitment and financial crisis for universities relying on international tuition fees. Cleverly instructed the committee to examine evidence of abuse of the graduate route and its suitability, including which universities are producing graduates utilizing the route.
