Just In : UK Set to Deport International Students Over Poor Academic Performance
The UK is set to deport International Students over poor academic performance,according to reports
The United Kingdom (UK) is considering the deportation of international students who have failed to meet academic performance standards.
This action is under consideration as part of an initiative to reduce net migration by 300,000, according to reports by The Telegraph.
Home Secretary James Cleverly has recommended a comprehensive review of the graduate visa, forming a crucial aspect of a five-point plan to curtail migration levels, which have reached record highs.
The report reveals that the UK has granted two-year visas to more than 98,000 international students post-graduation, marking a substantial year-on-year increase of 74 per cent or 42,000 individuals.
Concerns have arisen about potential misuse of this visa as a gateway to low-skilled employment or as a means to stay in the UK without seeking employment.
The report states, “There are fears that it is being used as a backdoor route to work in the UK, often in low-skilled jobs, or simply to stay for two years as there is no requirement to take up employment.”
Professor Brian Bell, the committee’s chairman, highlighted the absence of current requirements regarding specific grade achievements for students.
He stated, “There’s no requirement to get particular grades in your university course or anything like that. That’s the question we want to review in the graduate route to think about whether that’s sensible or whether you should have a rule that says you have to achieve a certain grade or a certain kind of achievement in your course.”
The committee will further explore the possibility of imposing restrictions, such as limiting foreign students to specific universities or prescribed courses. Certain job types or activities may also face constraints.
Bell added, “At the moment, there’s no restriction on what you can do. You can, if you’ve got the money, just sit around and do nothing in the UK for two years. You can also take a minimum wage job, or you can take a very highly paid job.”
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick have advocated for a revamp or abolition of the graduate visa, expressing concerns about its contribution to immigration and susceptibility to misuse.
Jenrick stated, “The graduate route is ripe for comprehensive reform. Too many universities have fallen into the migration, rather than education business, and are marketing low-grade, short courses as a backdoor to a life in the UK.”
The proposed changes to the UK’s graduate visa system and the potential deportation of international students with low grades signify a tightening of immigration policies. This may pose challenges for prospective immigrants using the study route, introducing uncertainties about post-graduation opportunities and employment prospects.
The shift reflects a broader reevaluation of the balance between educational pursuits and migration control, impacting those aspiring to study in the UK.
