Statement on the MAC review of the Graduate route March 2024

 

The Graduate immigration route was created as a post-study work route to attract international students to the UK as part of the UK Government’s International Education Strategy, and it has been highly successful in this regard. It contributes to the sustainability of the UK higher education, as part of a competitive post-study work offer enabling international students to further develop their employability skills after graduation, and providing maximum flexibility to UK employers recruiting international graduates. 

We are extremely concerned at the proposed timescale for the review. The timescale leaves no space for a full call for evidence, and the Migration Advisory Committee’s response to the Home Secretary outlines the limitations that this timescale puts on its ability to provide informed recommendations to government.  

Given the importance of the route to the UK’s offer to international students, we are calling for the Home Secretary to give the Migration Advisory Committee the time to conduct a full and comprehensive review of this critical immigration route, enabling adequate consultation with the UK higher education sector and employer representatives.