Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to (a) the levy on higher education provider income from international students proposed in her Department's white paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published in May 2025, CP 1326 and (b) bullet 32 in in her Department's publication entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, Technical Annex, published in May 2025, what assessment she has made of potential price elasticities for non-EU students.

The department has engaged with the Home Office regarding the international student levy, including on its design and impacts. We will set out further details on the levy at the Autumn Budget.

The Immigration White Paper included an illustrative example that a 6% levy could reduce student inflows by up to 7,000 per year. We expect the UK to remain a highly attractive study destination. Our world-class higher education (HE) sector can offer a fulfilling and enjoyable experience to international students from around the world.

In recognition of the sector’s challenging financial environment, we have increased tuition fee limits in this academic year and refocused the Office for Students to monitor the sector’s financial health.

We have published our new plan for HE reform through the Post-16 education and skills white paper, which sets out our ambition for a world leading and financially sustainable HE sector.