UCU comments on the Home Secretary's proposals for overseas students

UCU says the proposed consultation on tightening up the student visa system, which will look at limiting international student recruitment to the 'best' universities and courses, equates to pulling up the drawbridge on thousands of potential students and sending out a message that the UK is closed for business.

The union highlighted that international students made up 18% of the UK higher education student body in 2014, and make an enormous contribution to UK higher education, both educationally and economically.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'This proposal to limit overseas students to particular universities and courses equates to pulling up the drawbridge and sending a message that the UK is closed for business.

'Our universities' international student recruitment is a huge success story because overseas students are attracted by the quality of higher education available. International students make an enormous contribution to UK higher education both educationally and economically. As highly skilled people, they make an invaluable contribution to our economy.

'Ministers need to take a very different approach and support universities by removing international students from the net migration target altogether.'