Hobsons Response To Home Secretary’s Speech on Immigration

13 December 2012

Responding to yesterday’s announcement by the Home Secretary Theresa May, Duncan Findlater, Director of Product and Client Services at Hobsons, said: “There is no doubt that genuine international students were deterred in 2011 from coming to the UK by the negative publicity generated in both the domestic and international press.

“We are sure that the universities that we work with will be pleased to hear the Home Secretary repeating the message that there is no cap on the number of legitimate international students and that the government is eager to encourage more students to come to the UK.  However it is the perception that is all important.”

For over seven years Hobsons have provided an Enrolment Management Service which includes international enquiry management and offer conversion services to a number of UK universities.  Following the changes announced last year to the post-study work visa we saw an immediate and dramatic drop in the number of students enquiring about study in the UK from our three key markets.  There had been some signs of recovery in 2012.

Duncan added: “On average it takes over 12 months from first enquiry to enrolment at a UK institution, in some markets and for some universities this can be significantly longer.  In our view the full impact on individual institutions of all this negative publicity and the changes made by UKBA may still yet to be felt.”

In response to proposals to make it easier for PhD students to find skilled work in the UK after their studies Duncan also commented: “The conversations that we have had with prospective students looking to study in the UK indicates that post-study work opportunities are a very important factor in the decision making process.”

Notes

1. The Home Secretary's speech entitled 'An Immigration System that Works in the National Interest' is available to view at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/speeches/home-secretary-imm-speech-dec12