Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reliance on international students on the higher education sector.

This government welcomes international students who meet the requirements to study in the UK and enrich our university campuses, forge lifelong friendships with our domestic students and become global ambassadors for the UK.

Higher education (HE) providers in the UK received an estimated £12.1 billion in tuition fee income from international students in the 2023/24 academic year, which supported the provision of places for domestic students and research and development.

Our world class HE sector attracts high quality students from across the globe and can offer a fulfilling and enjoyable experience to international students from around the world.

The Post-16 education and skills white paper sets out the government’s commitment to building a world-class skills system, one that breaks down the barriers to opportunity, meets the needs of students and employers, drives economic growth, and improves lives across the country.