MAC Finds No Fault with the Graduate Route in the UK by International Students

The graduate route is the post-study work period offered to students after completing their studies in the UK. It is generally for 2 years, for students pursuing PHD or Doctorate, it can be for 3 years. There was a committee formed to review the ‘Graduate Route’ as it was felt that it needed reviewing basis of the growing international population to high levels. But the Migration Advisory Committee found nothing wrong with the Graduate Route and found no malpractice or abuse of the rule. Although the MAC has suggested to the government that it should use Data more accurately and responsibly, while making new policies and changes when it has a clear vision on how it will use and collect data. Also, it has been pointed out by the MAC that knowing which form of Data is to be used when and where is of utmost importance.

There are certain agents or subagents who mislead international students about the UK, and for them, some reformative suggestions have been made. Firstly, the government is advised to form a registration system for agents and subagents to keep monitoring them authentically. Secondly, the universities are advised to publish their student recruitment numbers through their agents and their spending on them.

The MAC found that the removal of student dependents' ability to travel to the UK with international students in January 2024 (barring students enrolled in research-focused postgraduate programs) is already having a significant impact on the number of students using the Graduate Route and the country's overall migration patterns. They warn that limiting access to the Graduate Route could lead to overcorrection.

The prominent people related to universities were extremely relieved and welcomed this decision. Although they admitted that this ordering of review of the graduate route had created a lot of mess and panic. As for them, international students who remain working in the UK on the Graduate Route are net contributors to the UK, important to their ability to compete as a study destination, and crucial to university finances. They made it clear that they understood the political pressure to reduce migration, but as the report makes clear, changes introduced earlier this year to prevent postgraduate taught students from bringing dependents have already had a very significant effect. Recruitment ahead of September is already looking incredibly challenging as per their reading, and they want the government to recognize this, and that going further than this would mark a serious concern.

While the universities are relieved by the MAC’s report, certain politicians from the Conservative side have blatantly criticized the report and its conclusion. Furthermore, the MAC review indicates that the universities themselves may not be the best place to place the blame for UK universities' excessive dependence on tuition from overseas students: "Just like in social care, the industry's growing over-reliance on immigration is a result of inadequate funding."

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