African students interested in pursuing their educational fulfilment in the United Kingdom (UK) are in for tougher times, as the government is set to tighten immigration rules and increase residency requirements.
According to The Economic Times report, Britain is set to tighten immigration rules, and international students and universities will be affected.
“A levy on tuition fees is planned. The residency requirement for settlement will increase. The Graduate Route visa duration will be shortened.”
The UK government, according to the report, aims to reduce net migration; hence, these changes seek a more controlled immigration system.
Consequently, the government is prepared to apply stricter immigration policies that will directly impact international students and universities.
These changes are part of a broader effort to reduce annual net migration by 100,000, as per the white paper released by the Home Office.
In the UK, a total of 18,900 Nigerians were issued study visas in 2024. This represents a decrease compared to previous years, with a significant drop of 43 per cent in the first six months of the year alone. The number of “main applicant” student visas granted to Nigerians in the first six months of 2024 was 4,669, compared to 14,772 in the corresponding period in 2023.
The UK government’s significant measure is the introduction of a six per cent levy on tuition fees paid by international students.
According to the estimates from Universities UK, universities will be required to pay this levy to the government, potentially raising an estimated £600 million (about N1.3 trillion) per year.
The levy is intended to shift financial responsibility for migration away from the taxpayer and towards the institutions that benefit economically from international enrolments.
Currently, foreign nationals can apply for permanent settlement in the UK after five years. Under the new policy, the minimum residency requirement will double to ten years.
According to a report by The Times, this move will affect around 1.5 million people and is intended to reduce the number of migrants permanently settling in the UK.
Another major change includes the reduction of the Graduate Route visa duration from two years to 18 months. This visa allows international students to remain in the UK after completing their studies to find graduate-level work.
Under the new rule, if graduates do not secure suitable employment within this shortened period, they will be required to leave the country.
Universities across the UK have raised concerns that these changes could hurt their competitiveness. Many institutions rely on revenue from overseas students to fund operations and research, especially as domestic funding remains limited.
The changes are expected to force universities to re-evaluate recruitment strategies and financial planning.
BusinessDay
