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Chamber and committees

UK Immigration Restrictions and Impact on Students and Graduates

  • Submitted by: Kevin Stewart, Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2024
  • Motion reference: S6M-13132

That the Parliament notes with concern the UK Government's reported decision to commission the Migration Advisory Committee to undertake a "rapid" review of the Graduate route visa, which allows students to remain in the UK for two years after graduation, or three years if they complete a PhD; understands that the review, which was announced on 11 March 2024, is due to report back by 14 May, and that the committee itself has warned that the timescales will "substantially limit the quality and quantity of evidence"; is concerned that introducing further restrictions on international students may have a devastating effect on the number of international students choosing to study in Scotland, with numbers reportedly already dropping significantly due to recent UK Government immigration restrictions, such as the reported decision to end Dependant visas for postgraduate students, and believes that the only way for Scotland to get away from what it sees as the damaging policies and rhetoric of the current UK administration, and protect what it considers to be Scotland’s reputation as an attractive, first-class destination for international students, is by securing control over immigration policy with independence.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Clare Adamson, Alasdair Allan, Colin Beattie, Stephanie Callaghan, Maggie Chapman, Bob Doris, Jackie Dunbar, Annabelle Ewing, Joe FitzPatrick, Kenneth Gibson, Patrick Harvie, Clare Haughey, Bill Kidd, John Mason, Stuart McMillan, Audrey Nicoll, David Torrance, Elena Whitham