20 billion pounds a year! That’s how much the UK gets at the expense of international students.

According to a report by the Institute of Higher Education, international students bring in 20 billion pounds into the UK economy.

The analysis showed that in addition to tuition fees, the associated costs of international students had become a major factor supporting the local economy.
London alone accounts for 4.6 billion pounds. The city of Sheffield is the record holder in obtaining material benefits from visiting students in proportion.

The think tank’s director, Nick Hillman, said the figures confirm the need not to extend to students a tightening of immigration policies.

Every year, around 230,000 students come to study at UK universities, most of whom go to graduate school, the vast majority of Chinese students.
Purchasing power

The analysis, carried out by London Economics, calculated the financial contribution of international students, including tuition and accommodation fees, and compared it to government spending such as additional infrastructure costs and non-payment of debts.

Mr Hillman said the report provided comprehensive evidence that international students are of significant value to the economy and that every student coming from outside the EU brings the UK 102,000 because they have a higher tuition price than Europeans.
For the British economy, the benefits of international students are ten times higher than the country’s accommodation costs, Mr Hillman says.
He said the reduction in the number of international students would lead to job losses across the country, as students spend money directly in their universities and the surrounding economic space, including cafes, sports and book shops, taxis and nightclubs.
Deprived of consumers in the face of students, some local organizations may fall into disrepair. Consequently, many locals will lose their jobs, says Mr. Hillman.

The organisation, which conducted the study in conjunction with education company Kaplan, argues that the UK needs to be more positive about students from other countries and stop discussing tougher immigration rules against them.
Regions winners

The Indian version of the Times newspaper informs its readers that there are many top universities in the UK, but at the same time “there is the most hostile government towards students in the world”.

While there is debate that students should not be subject to tougher immigration policies aimed at reducing visitors from other countries, the local Interior Ministry says their plans did not change the rules for students. “We do not put restrictions on the number of international students who can come to the country and appreciate their contribution to the economy,” an Interior Ministry spokesman said. The Ministry of the Interior also notes that the Migration Committee is assessing the economic impact, which will reveal indicators for the formation of a “future migration system.”

The Institute of Higher Education also made a regional breakdown showing the benefits of each of them’s economics from international students. The calculations showed that on average each region received 31.3 million pounds.

Despite the fact that a large proportion of international students are in London, the study found that in relative terms, smaller cities, with more than one university, can benefit more from the spending of visiting students.