Six in ten Britons (61%) would prefer current levels of international student migration to stay the same or increase, while only 27% support reducing or stopping it, according to new research today.
A new report by British Future finds that only a quarter of the public wish to reduce international student migration, which makes up around 40% of total UK immigration. The majority are content for it to remain at current levels or increase.
Only a quarter of the public actually thinks of international students as migrants.
The new report, ‘Studying and staying: public attitudes towards international students’ finds that the public recognises the importance of international students in helping to fund UK universities and supporting the national and local economies. Six in ten people agree that universities would have less funding to invest in top quality facilities and teaching without the higher fees paid by international students. Only 10% disagree.
A similar proportion, six in ten (59%) recognise that international students bring money to local areas. And around half of survey respondents (49%) agreed that international students positively contribute to the UK economy, while only 12% thought that they make a negative contribution.
People do express worries, however, about the impact on housing pressures when large numbers of international students come to a town or city.
Public support for international students has remained steady for a decade. Polling by ICM in 2014 for British Future, published in the 2014 report ‘International students and the UK immigration debate,’ found that 59% of the public agreed the government should not reduce international student numbers, even if that limits the government’s ability to cut immigration numbers overall. Only 22% took the opposing view.
Heather Rolfe, Research Director for British Future, who led the research, said:
“Public awareness of immigration for study, and the part it plays in funding UK universities, is limited – but when asked about international students they are supportive. Even when levels of immigration to the UK are high, most of the public would rather maintain levels of international student migration or expand it further. As the immigration debate becomes more contested and polarised, however, universities and those who represent the sector should not take that support for granted.
“Universities will need to reassure the public that international recruitment does not mean that home students lose out and that local pressures, for example on housing, are being well managed by universities and local authorities.
“At the same time, people across the political spectrum like students gaining skills that are valuable for the economy. They support opportunities for international students to stay once they graduate.”
The research comprised nationally representative polling, stakeholder workshops and a series of focus groups across the country, in places with and without a university. Participants were asked about international student numbers and to engage with some of the choices that UK policy-makers face. Asked to consider different options for funding the work of universities, people preferred to increase international student numbers to bring in more funds, over alternative approaches that were offered.
They were also asked about the contribution of students to the national and local economies; about some students being allowed to bring their spouse or child with them to the UK; and about students being able to stay and work in the UK after they graduate.
Quotes from focus group participants:
“If every international student stopped coming to Glasgow tomorrow, you know, the knock-on effect (…), because the local economy, the taxi drivers, the restaurants, you know…” (Glasgow focus group)
“International students are generally paying about three times what the UK student is for the same course. (…) So definitely the UK students are benefiting from the fact that they’re being subsidised to some extent by international students.” (Coventry focus group)
“If they go back after they finish, we won’t get the benefit we could have from them getting a university education here.” (Vale of Glamorgan focus group)
(Picture credit: www.edwardmoss.co.uk)
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