UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, while speaking at a conference, on July 23, 2024, made some important points.  First, she said that international students were “welcome” to the UK and unlike previous governments, the current Labour government led by Keir Starmer would not like to send mixed messages.

She hailed international students and stated that she valued their contribution to UK’s universities and the country as a whole. Phillipson also said that international students “too long… been treated as political footballs, not valued guests. Their fees welcomed, but their presence resented. Exploited for cheap headlines, not cherished for all they bring to our communities,”

While welcoming international students and hailing their contributions to the UK, Phillipson also stated that immigration will be checked. Of the total student visas issued by the UK were 486, 107, Indian students received 133,237, or over 1/4th of the total visas issued.

Changes to student and work visas 

The previous Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak had introduced certain changes with an eye on checking international student inflow to keep the UK’s immigration numbers in check. One of the important changes introduced was that individuals on graduate visas would not be able to bring dependants. Sunak had also planned to tweak the Graduate Route Visa (GRV) Scheme. The GRV enables international students to remain in the UK for at least two years upon successful completion of bachelor’s, post-graduate, or other eligible courses. For those with PhDs or other doctoral qualifications, the GRV allows students to spend three years in the UK. Due to pressure from several quarters, Sunak did not go ahead with his plan of restricting visas only to the brightest of students.

In 2023, the UK witnessed a slight drop in net migration (the difference between inward migration and emigration). Net migration in 2023 was estimated at 6,85,000. While nearly 1.2 million migrated to the UK, 5,32,000 emigrated from it.

It is not just the UK, but several other countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand are introducing changes to their student and work visas. While on the one hand these countries need international students to sustain their universities as well as cheap labour from developing nations, on the other they need to ensure that the local population does not feel that its jobs are being unfairly snatched by unchecked immigration numbers. Canada has made it mandatory for students to spend a minimum amount of money beyond tuition fees, and only the spouses/common-law partners of students enrolled in master’s programs will be eligible to get a work permit. Australia has raised the application fees for international students from $710 to $1,600 (a 125% raise).

In New Zealand, new rules require foreign workers to have English language skills. Apart from this, countries are also trying to diversify their international student pool and reduce the intake from certain countries.

Trying to strike a fine balance 

All these countries are trying to strike a fine balance in their immigration policies and send out a clear message that they are not opposed to immigrants who are talented and make positive economic contributions. Even former US President and Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump – known for his sharp anti-immigrant stance -- had stated that international students who completed their studies in the US would be granted a green card if he became president. Trump said that students who had gone to a two-year college would also be eligible for a green card. He also went on to say that he knew of "..people graduated from a top college or from a college, and they desperately wanted to stay here, they had a plan for a company, a concept, and they can't,  they go back to India, they go back to China, they do the same basic company in those places. and they become multi-billionaires employing thousands and thousands of people, and it could have been done here,"

Impact on students from India

Indian students comprise a significant percentage of the global international student community in not just Canada, but the US, UK and Australia. Students need to adapt to the new education landscape. Some of the changes introduced by Western governments will create challenges in the short run, but they may be good in the long term. First, it will be tough for higher education institutions to exploit students. Second, students may be compelled to think of opportunities at home or in countries in Europe, the Middle East and even East Asia.

Impact of new student visa and migration policies 

While keeping a close watch on immigration policies, it is also important to look at opportunities arising in non-Western countries like the UAE, South Korea, Japan etc which are trying to attract workers – long-term and short-term - and students. While students from all over India are likely to be impacted by the proposed changes, those introduced by Canada and Australia will have a specific impact on northern Indian states – especially Punjab and Haryana --which have been sending large numbers of students to these countries. 

In the short run, there are likely to be challenges as education and work opportunities have been dubbed as a “safety valve” given the lack of economic opportunities in Punjab. Migration by itself is not problematic; it is important to have a nuanced approach.  The issue at hand is that “push factors” (economic and social) rather than “pull factors” have been instrumental in the exodus of Punjabi youth overseas (recent years have been witness to the mushrooming of IELTS Centres in Punjab and outward remittances exceeding inward remittances).

 The issue of migration needs to be dealt with in a pragmatic manner and not with paranoia. There are long-term and short-term solutions. In the short run, youth migrating from Punjab, as well as other Indian states, need to harness education and work opportunities in European nations as well as non-Western countries.  It is also important for a change in mindset vis-à-vis migration. The focus should be on the economic opportunities, skill and knowledge enhancement that education or work overseas provides, not just securing residency or citizenship, which is important for global mobility no doubt but should not be the be-all and end-all. 

In the longer run, there is no escape from creating economic opportunities back home and an ecosystem that successfully channelizes the talent, enterprise and skills of Panjabi youth.

(The writer is a New Delhi-based policy analyst associated with The OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat, India. Views are personal. He can be reached at tsmaini@jgu.edu.in)