For years, Indian students have been moving abroad, particularly to the UK and the USA, for further studies.

The plurality of students take up admission to any college they get because they want a key to staying abroad.

In such a situation, if the United Kingdom chooses to restrict international students unless they are studying at leading universities, it could disturb the dreams of thousands of aspiring Indian students.

Current take by the UK government

The Conservative government in the UK had promised to decrease net migration in its 2019 election manifesto. There was a net migration of around 5,04,000 people to the United Kingdom during the year up to June. This motion pushed the government into action mode, and they intend to restrict foreign student intake only to top UK university admissions.

The government plans to alter the number of family members accompanying the student into the UK. These latest rules will only apply to students not already living in the UK.

There has been a 2.15x growth in the number of visas issued to Indian students in June 2022 compared to 2019. There was a boost of 71% in the number of overall sponsored study visas granted.

With family members, these numbers put pressure on the system for education, accommodation, health, and other infrastructure facilities.

The UK is in a classic Catch-22 situation. It requires quality researchers and technicians to gain its science development goals. The universities demand higher fees from foreign nationals to offset what they renounce in the form of subsidised education by teaching British nationals.

Moreover, the intake of international students keeps UK universities viable, and a cut in the migration numbers could catch them toiling for survival.

On the other hand, decreasing net migration numbers was a commitment made in the election manifesto that cannot be dismissed outright.

The new UK government is struggling to balance. The conclusion to prohibit international students except for top university admissions is bound to hit the migration longings of thousands of Indian students planning to use it as their ticket to greener pastures.

For Indian students preparing to go to the UK for further or higher studies, it is advisable to check out the list of universities where the prohibition is not applicable.

These students could also consider other countries like the USA, Germany, France, and Singapore for their admissions. If they are medical students, they could consider the Philippines, Ukraine, and China.

Students should wait and watch to see if this ban is made applicable to international students. It will help if students keep themselves conscious of the latest developments and changes made by the UK government.