Responding to new ONS immigration figures, which show a sharp drop in numbers of people coming to the UK to study, Mark Hilton, Policy Delivery Director at BusinessLDN, said:
“The Government is rightly aiming to manage immigration sustainably, but the UK must remain open to overseas talent if it is to compete globally, innovate and grow.
“International students play a vital role in local economies right across the country, including London, and subsidise university courses taken by British students.
“The UK’s higher education sector is one of our great exporting success stories but many universities are facing acute funding pressures. With international student numbers falling, now is not the time for a new levy on the revenue they bring in.”