Labour’s education secretary Bridget Phillipson has reiterated that the government does “not intend” to lift the visa restrictions on international students imposed by the previous conservative government.  

When asked in an interview with Sky News if Conservative “visa restrictions” for international students should be reversed, Phillipson replied: “We don’t intend to change that.”

“But what I do say is that international students who come to our country and study do make a tremendous contribution,” she added.  

Under the Conservatives, the government brought in new rules banning international taught master’s students from bringing dependents to the UK from January 1, 2024. 

Phillipson acknowledged the financial hardships of UK universities and criticised the Conservatives’ treatment of the sector.  

It is not the case that international students are taking places that would’ve otherwise been available to domestic students

Bridget Phillipson

“I think the last government were far too focused on picking fights and on suggesting somehow that university wasn’t for some people, rather than actually acting in the national interest to make sure that our brilliant universities, who are a beacon around the world and are so well respected, are able to succeed into the future,” she said.  

“It is not the case that international students are taking places that would’ve otherwise been available to domestic students, in fact they are cross subsidising students from the UK, and we’ve seen a drop in undergraduate admissions from international students in this phase.” 

According to Home Office data, study visa applications from January to July 2024 were 16% lower than the same period in 2023.  

During this time, there were 13,100 applications from dependents of students, 81% fewer than the previous year.  

Since coming into office, Labour has vowed to “welcome international students” and has confirmed its commitment to maintaining the graduate route, which was reviewed by the last administration. 

Speaking on A-level results day in the UK, Phillipson allayed fears of rising domestic tuition fee hikes, saying the move would be “unpalatable to students” and adding that the government intended to “reform the system overall”.  

The night before, the Department for Education released a video in which Phillipson delivered a welcome message to international students considering studying in the UK, maintaining that “friendships between students become friendships between countries”.