LCCI Calls for Government Commitment to Safeguard the Graduate Visa Route

London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) with London Higher have written a joint letter addressed to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, and the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson. The two organisations urged the Government to reaffirm its commitment to the Graduate Visa Route.

This comes ahead of the forthcoming immigration white paper due to be published this month and follows recent concerns that stricter income requirements may be imposed. 

The Graduate Visa Route is a key component of the UK's International Education Strategy and a vital driver of economic growth. 

London, as a global hub for higher education, attracts a significant proportion of international students with 40% of all first-year international students in the UK choosing to study in the capital. Its universities support over 223,000 jobs and contribute more than £12 billion to the UK’s GDP, with the 2021-2022 cohort alone adding a net impact of £9.59 billion. 

A reduction in international students poses a direct threat to the financial sustainability of UK universities, the UK’s competitive edge in international education and business access to global talent. 

Recent changes in visa policies, including bans on dependents for one-year master’s students and increased visa fees, have already contributed to a 16% drop in international student applications. 

Diana Beech, CEO of London Higher, and Karim Fatehi OBE, CEO of LCCI, wrote:

By reaffirming its commitment to the graduate route visa, the government can send a strong message that international students are welcome and can both benefit from, and contribute to, the exciting growth opportunities in London and across the UK. A failure to do so risks undermining not only our world-leading higher education system but also the future of innovation, global talent attraction, and the economic vitality of London and the UK.