Overseas students say immigration cap makes them feel less welcome in UK

UCU said the poll of 500 students* added to concerns that Government efforts to sound tough on immigration to a domestic audience was having a detrimental impact around the world.

The research found that overseas students are happy with their course (83%) and said UK higher education is highly respected around the world (94%). More than four-fifths of overseas students are happy with the quality of teaching (81%) and the level of support from teachers (82%).

UCU president, Simon Renton, said: 'The government either does not realise the damage its rhetoric on immigration is doing to our standing on the global stage, or it doesn't care.

'We have built up a reputation for excellence and welcoming the brightest brains from across the world to our universities. The government needs to be really careful it does not undo all that hard work by trying to talk tough on immigration to a domestic audience.

'Including overseas students in the immigration cap was a mistake and this research is a real insight into the damage that decision has done to UK PLC.'

* Fieldwork for this research for Regent's College was conducted by YouthSight between 13 and 15 May 2013. The sample consisted of 510 interviews with International students studying at 105 UK higher education institutions. For more on the research, contact Hamir Patel on 020 3544 4947 or 07892 702 362, or at hamir.patel@champollion.co.uk