Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the economic impact of international students on the UK economy when developing fiscal policy in relation to the higher education sector.

The International Education Strategy confirms our commitment to welcoming international students who meet the requirements for UK study, recognising their contribution to the sector, society and the UK's global reputation.

The latest estimates from the department show that UK education-related exports and transnational education activity generated £36.7 billion in revenue in 2024. Higher education was the largest component, accounting for £26.6 billion (72.4%) of total education export revenue. Of this, £23.9 billion (89.9%) was attributable to the tuition fees and living expenditure of international students, with an average contribution of around £33,400 per student. International students supported economic activity across all parts of the UK, generating an estimated £20.3 billion in England, £2.5 billion in Scotland, £0.7 billion in Wales and £0.4 billion in Northern Ireland.

Further information about UK revenues from education can be found at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/uk-revenue-from-education-related-exports-and-transnational-education-activity/2024.