UK Considers Deportation of Foreign Students with Low Grades

Foreign students studying in the United Kingdom are facing the prospect of deportation if their academic performance falls below certain standards, warns a top government adviser, as reported by The Telegraph (UK).

James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, has initiated a review of the graduate visa through the migration advisory committee (MAC). Brian Bell, the chairperson of MAC, stated, “There’s no requirement to get particular grades in your university course or anything like that.” The committee aims to assess the sensibility of this approach and whether a rule stipulating specific grade achievements should be implemented.

Bell further revealed that the committee will explore the possibility of additional restrictions, such as allowing foreign students to stay only if they attend specific universities or complete designated courses. This could also extend to specific types of employment or activities.

This review aligns with the UK’s broader five-point plan to reduce net migration by 300,000 from its record-high levels. Notably, over 98,000 students were granted two-year visas to remain in the UK post-graduation in the year leading to June 2023—a substantial 74% increase within a year.

In May, the UK government unveiled measures to curtail the issuance of student visas, including the removal of the right for international students to bring dependents unless enrolled in postgraduate research courses. Additionally, the ability for international students to switch to work routes before completing their studies will be revoked, effective for courses beginning in January 2024.