A recent study conducted by the Policy Institute at King’s College London has shed light on public opinion regarding the number of international students at UK universities. The findings showed that most people acknowledge the substantial economic advantages of international students and their contribution to creating opportunities for domestic students at universities. 

Stats
Approximately 41% of respondents believe that the benefits of international students outweigh the costs, a decline of 10% compared to 2018. Meanwhile, 26% of people express a preference for fewer international students at UK universities. On the other hand, 58% of respondents are content for the number of international students to either remain the same (43%) or increase (15%). Whereas a minority of 18% believe that international students take spots away from domestic students.

What are they saying?
“Despite large rises in net migration in recent years and increased focus on immigration in the media and politics, the majority of the public still have a positive view of overseas students coming to the UK,” said Bobby Duffy, director of the Policy Institute at King’s College London. “But there has been some softening in support over recent years, which will likely reflect that greater focus on immigration generally, alongside some increased questioning of the value of universities as a whole.”

Views on international students’ contribution to UK net migration 
Researchers asked two separate groups whether they would prefer to see more, the same, or fewer international students at UK universities. One group was presented with a negative framing, where the focus was on how international students contribute significantly to the UK's rising net migration. As a result, around 30% of respondents expressed a desire for fewer international students in the country, The Pie News reports. In contrast, the other group was asked with a more positive framing, emphasising the substantial economic contributions that international students make to the UK. In this case, only 17% of respondents wanted to see fewer international students. The research shows international students are not a major concern for the public when it comes to immigration, with only 29% of people believing they should be included in migration statistics. Additionally, there is a surprisingly high level of awareness among the public that the fees paid by international students help universities provide places for domestic students, with half of respondents acknowledging this.

Government stance
The current government has indicated a more open perspective, affirming that international students are welcome in the UK, which aligns with the prevailing public opinion. Given the significant short-term financial pressures on universities, any actions that would reduce the number of international students could seriously impact the sustainability of some institutions. Such measures would also be hard to justify to a public that recognises the financial contribution these students make to the sector.  
The government recently announced a review of its international education strategy, with input from Steve Smith, who has been reappointed as the UK’s international education champion. Smith views his reappointment as a sign that the government recognises the importance of fostering relationships with foreign governments and stakeholders through education.