Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to attract foreign students to study STEM subjects.

As part of the UK Science and Technology Framework, a cross-government strategy which aims to cement the UK’s status as a science and technology superpower by 2030, the department is committed to establishing a competitive advantage in attracting international talent to the UK. Details from the Framework on attracting talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-science-and-technology-framework/the-uk-science-and-technology-framework#talent-and-skills.

The UK higher education (HE) sector has been successful for two years running in delivering on the government’s ambition, set out in our International Education Strategy, of hosting at least 600,000 students per year by 2030, which includes many international students studying STEM subjects.

Our offer to international students, including those wishing to study STEM subjects, is extremely competitive. With our world class universities that excel in both teaching and research, the department is committed to ensuring the UK remains a destination of choice for international students from across the globe.

International students make a significant economic and cultural contribution to the UK’s HE sector, which is beneficial for our universities and delivers growth at home.