Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will request that the Migration Advisory Committee undertake a cost-benefit analysis of the economic contribution that net student migration makes to the UK economy.

The Government recognises that international students make an important contribution during their time here, and they help make our education system one of the best in the world. The UK remains the second most popular destination in the world for international higher education students.

We continue to be committed to ensuring our top universities can attract the best students from around the world. Visa applications from international students to study at British universities are up by 14% since 2010, and the grant rate for Tier 4 (General) visa applications has increased every year since 2010, with 94 per cent of such applications granted in 2015.

There are no current plans to commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to undertake an assessment of the economic impact of international students, but we keep the MAC’s work plan under review.