Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the UK attracts the highest calibre of international students.

The UK remains an incredibly attractive overseas study destination to international students across the globe. We have a world-class higher education sector, with four universities in the top 10 and 17 in the top 100, as well as a wide range of institutions offering high quality education and a fulfilling experience.

The Immigration White Paper set out that we will retain the graduate visa but reduce its duration from 2 years to 18 months, whilst maintaining the 3-year duration for PhD students. This will maintain our competitive post-study offer whilst ensuring individuals on this route obtain employment in graduate level roles and contribute to the country’s skills needs more quickly.