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Written question asked by James McMurdock (Independent (affiliation)) on Monday, 13 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 October 2025. It was answered by Josh MacAlister (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 November 2025 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Overseas Students: Visas

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing an annual cap on the number of student visas issued.

Answer

The government is committed to a United Kingdom that is outward looking and welcomes international students, who make a positive contribution to the UK’s higher education sector, our economy and society as a whole. Universities in England received an estimated £12.1 billion annually in tuition fee income from international students in the 2023/24 academic year, which supports provision of places for domestic students and research and development.

The department has recently published the Immigration White Paper, which sets out a balanced approach, helping the government achieve our manifesto commitment of reducing net migration while maintaining the UK’s global competitiveness and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting the UK’s skills base. We have also announced a levy on international students’ fees to fund the reintroduction of targeted maintenance grants for disadvantaged students.

The department is reviewing the International Education Strategy to ensure that it increases the value of education exports and reflects the priorities of education organisations and businesses.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
81787
Session
2024-26
Related items
Restoring Control over the Immigration System
Monday, 12 May 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects
Overseas students Visas
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk