Exporting Education UK responds to Office of National Statistics Migration Statistics Quarterly Report

28 February 2019

Today’s ONS Migration Statistics Quarterly Report reveals the first growth in non-EU student immigration since 2013.  The overall number of people arriving in the UK to study increased to an estimated 217,000 with non-EU student immigration at its highest level since 2011.

Exporting Education UK (ExEdUK), a cross-sector network of international educators, last year supported the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Students with their first inquiry.  The inquiry report, A Sustainable Future for International Students in the UK, called for a major change in the Government’s approach to international students.  The report urged the Government to develop an ambitious and positive plan to drive sustainable growth in this major export sector and deliver significant benefits to the UK’s students, universities, colleges, schools and local economies.

James Pitman, Chair of ExEdUK, said:

“This latest ONS report shows a return to growth in non-EU student numbers for the first time since 2013.  While this is welcome news, the great shame is that numbers are only now back at 2011 levels.  Nearly a decade has passed and in that time we have slipped behind our international competitors.

“International student recruitment has fallen victim to the wider debate on migration in the UK.  Government policy in this area has been driven by a target to reduce overall net migration, with measures designed to create a “hostile environment”.  While there is now some cause to be cautiously optimistic, more positive action is needed if the UK is to regain its lost share of this valuable and growing global market.  The first step would be for the Government to accept and implement the recommendations of the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Students following its recent inquiry.

“The UK should take this opportunity to press the reset button and establish an ambitious strategy to increase recruitment and help make us a more attractive relative to rival study destinations such as the USA, Australia and Canada.”

Notes to editors:

About Exporting Education UK

Exporting Education UK is a cross sector group of UK organisations involved in international education who have come together to promote the value of the sector to the UK and its contribution to the UK’s long-term competitiveness in the global economy. www.exeduk.com

About the APPG for International Students

The APPG for International students promotes the local, regional and national value of international education, and develops policies which would enhance the international student experience and the position of the UK in the global education market.

The secretariat for Exporting Education UK and the APPG for International Students is provided by Independent Higher Education (IHE), the UK membership organisation and national representative body for independent providers of higher education, professional training and pathways.

For further information please contact

Marie Clark, Director of External Relations, IHE
Email: marie@independenthe.com; Phone: 020 3929 3370