Notwithstanding the Home Secretary’s diplomatic tone and recognition of the need to attract international students to UK universities and their contribution to the UK economy, the basis of his request relates to fears of a potential abuse of the immigration system. He refers, among other things, to previous concerns raised by MAC itself in 2018 and more recently in its annual report of 2023 regarding the possibility of an unrestricted right to work resulting in an increased demand for short-term, master’s degrees merely for the ultimate purpose of long-term immigration rather than education. He also states, and incorrectly so, that individuals can access a discounted salary threshold under the Skilled Worker route for up to four years following their Graduate visa when according to the immigration rules, if an individual switches to the Skilled Worker visa at the end of their Graduate visa, they are only eligible for the discounted rate for up to two years.
Additional concerns relate to early data suggesting that only a relatively small proportion of those switching from Graduate to Skilled Worker visas entered graduate level jobs and that the majority of such migrants are therefore going into low-skilled jobs with salaries which are less than the median wage of other graduates. Of more concern yet is the data showing that a majority of graduates are entering care work which is something which the government certainly did not intend when it announced the Graduate route in 2019.
The Home Secretary has referred to steps already taken to address the above issues including the restrictions on post-graduate students’ abilities to bring dependants and the increase in the general salary threshold from £26,200 to £38,700. James Cleverly, the UK's current Home Secrerary refers also to the proposed and much-anticipated increase to the new entrant discounted salary rates which Graduate visa-holders are able to access upon switching to the Skilled Worker Route.
Accordingly, the UK Home Secretary has asked MAC to carry out a review of the Graduate route, in particular:
• Whether there is any evidence of an abuse of the route and the route no longer serving the purpose it was intended for, namely to attract the brightest and the best.
• Demographics and trends with respect to international students’ entry into the labour market.
• Whether they are even continuing to contribute to the UK economy.
• last but not least, whether the route is undermining the integrity and quality of the UK’s higher education system.