President and Vice-Chancellor: New Government’s stance on international students echoes the warm welcome offered at Leicester

• President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Leicester Professor Nishan Canagarajah comments following this week's Embassy Education Conference

“Be in no doubt: international students are welcome in the UK” was the message from Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson speaking at the Embassy Education Conference earlier this week. 

In her speech she made it clear that the government valued international students, and international higher education more generally, committed to the retention of the graduate route visa and emphasised the cultural and social value of international study.  

The approach is one which has long been echoed at the University of Leicester which has one of the most diverse student bodies in the sector. 

We welcome students from more than 150 countries and they contribute to the diverse educational community that makes our University so special.  

They, in turn, benefit from studying at a leading UK university which has a track record for teaching and research excellence – we are a top 30 university in the Research Excellence Framework and rated Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework. 

International students offer global perspectives and important skills allowing all students to benefit from the exchange of ideas, the discovery of new cultures and a widened world view. They are also critical to the financial sustainability of our universities. 

International students bring a £41 billion annual contribution to the UK, meaning on average, each of the 650 parliamentary constituencies in the UK is £58 million better off – equivalent to approximately £560 per citizen.  

Recent research by HEPI and Kaplan also showed all three Leicester constituencies – South, East and West have high net impact from international students who bring a total economic impact of £738m. But they are so much more than a financial uplift on a spreadsheet. 

Take a look at any researchers in most UK universities, and you’ll find a huge proportion of international professionals at the cutting edge of their professions, making discoveries and breakthroughs in science, health, humanities and culture.  

Education must be at the forefront of tackling the major global challenges of our time and I truly believe that this can only be done through working in partnership with and widening horizons – in every sense of the word. So I’d go one step further than the Secretary for Education.  

International students and colleagues - be in no doubt: you are welcome at Leicester