On 12 May 2025, UK Government’s Home Office published a white paper outlining government’s plan on immigration, which includes shortening the time international graduates can stay on and work from two years to 18 months. Next to this, the government is planning to explore imposing a levy on income universities receive from international student tuition fees.  

The post-study Graduate Route, aimed at graduate retention, has remained in place, as well as visas for students from countries with the highest numbers claiming asylum after finishing their courses. The Graduate Route, popular with students from many developing countries, currently allows international graduates to work in the UK for two years to help pay off their expensive international tuition fees. The Graduate Route is planned to be shortened to 18 months. 

In parallel, all visa sponsoring institutions must comply with new requirements to recruit international students, specified in the Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA). The Basic Compliance Assessment, an annual assessment of each sponsor’s level of compliance with the visa and immigration rules, will also be stricter. Currently, there are three metrics that sponsoring institutions must meet: a visa refusal rate of less than 10%; a course enrolment rate of at least 90%; and a course completion rate of at least 85%. The white paper says these minimum pass requirements will be increased to a course enrolment rate of at least 95% and a course completion rate of 90% in order to pass the compliance threshold.

Considering these restrictive measures, it will be harder for the UK universities to recruit international students and secure related income, while also affecting the UK’s attractiveness as a study destination. More information, including stakeholder reactions are available at University World News.