Question on the economic value of overseas students from The Marquess Of Lothian

Written question answered on Monday 29 January  2018  

The Marquess Of Lothian asked Her Majesty’s Government, what assessment they have made of the figures for the economic value of overseas students to the UK published by the Higher Education Policy Institute in its report The Cost and Benefits of International Students on 11 January, and whether they plan to take these figures into account when determining net migration targets.

Answered on 29 January 2018 by Baroness Williams Of Trafford, Minister of State (Home Office): 

The Government welcomes the contribution that international students make to the UK economy. We recognise that international students enhance our educational institutions both financially and culturally; enrich the experience of domestic students; and become important ambassadors for the United Kingdom in later life. The independent Office for National Statistics is responsible for the production of the net migration statistics. In line with the internationally agreed UN definition, these statistics define a migrant as someone changing their normal place of residence for more than a year. Students are therefore included in the same way as other migrants. There is no limit on the number of international students who can come to the UK and there are no plans to change this. So long as students are compliant with immigration rules they should make a very limited contribution to net migration numbers.

The Government has recently commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to undertake a study into the costs and benefits of international students.