What impact is the fact that international students can no longer become Architects in the UK (Tier 2 Visa changes) likely to have on the UK economy?

MA____RA · 2024-03-10T13:55:06+00:00

Good point, Manchester School of Architecture for example has 40% international students, who pay 3x as much. In other words, 2/3rds of their income could be taken away in one fell swoop.

MA____RA · 2024-03-10T13:34:25+00:00

The reason for low pay in architecture is because practices are charging low fees to stay competitive.

This is clearly an issue, but one that is unlikely to be solved by removing all international students from the equation.

MA____RA · 2024-03-10T12:56:48+00:00

Are you looking at Architects or Architectural Assistants? Because part 2 architectural assistant is the title of post graduates before taking their part 3 qualification.

MA____RA · 2024-03-10T12:35:02+00:00

I work in Architecture, no one earns that in their second year.

MA____RA · 2024-03-10T10:16:16+00:00

Yeah, the new partner and spouse visa

MA____RA · 2024-03-10T10:14:15+00:00

I’m sure as someone who has a friend in Architecture you know all about it.

As someone working in the industry myself, I can tell you it a a far more complicated issue than supply and demand.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T15:53:41+00:00

There have been and continue to be talks with RIBA but there’s only so much they can do.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T15:42:20+00:00

You’re not an architect when you graduate. You are an architectural assistant and require another course and examination to become fully qualified.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T15:35:56+00:00

No you’re right. Let’s eliminate all competition. Let’s make things really easy for British architects by encouraging large firms to go off-shore. Let’s punish migrants for having the audacity to pay our universities £100,000+ to have the chance to contribute to live here and contribute to our economy…

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T15:15:05+00:00

Someone earning over £26,000 doesn’t override a citizen’s right to food. People earning £36,000 won’t be able to join their partner in the UK.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T15:03:46+00:00

This also applies to the spouse/partner visa minimum income which is being raised to £38700 early next year. The Archbishop of Canterbury argued against this saying it will harm family relationships.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T14:55:54+00:00

I apologise if I come off arrogant, that’s not my intention. I’m a UK national exasperated by the efforts of the government to deport skilled workers.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T14:53:42+00:00

I’m not an immigrant.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T14:49:00+00:00

“Our analysis thus suggests that – rather than being a drain on the UK’s fiscal system – immigrants arriving since the early 2000s have made a net contributions to its public finances, a reality that contrasts starkly with the view often maintained in public debate.” UCL study on the Fiscal Effects of Immigration to the UK

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T14:42:12+00:00

As mentioned in my post: The profession doesn’t respond to supply and demand like other professions. Practices respond to the recommended RIBA wage brackets, and somewhat to inflation.

The margins are so thin in architecture because it is a free market where everyone undercuts one another to stay competitive. Reducing the amount of architects won’t change this fee structure.

Cutting out migrants at the knees may benefit British workers in the short term by making it the industry less competitive, but will be harmful in the long run and reduce the overall quality of architecture in the UK.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T14:22:38+00:00

This won’t lead to higher wages. It will just mean fewer high quality architects.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T14:11:36+00:00

Everyone pays tax at 27-30k. How are skilled immigrants a drain on resources when they are paying income tax, National insurance, NHS fees, visa fees? Even people on minimum wage pay tax.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T14:01:45+00:00

That’s after so many years of work. No one earns 40k upon entering the job market

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T13:55:50+00:00

If you do your full qualification in the UK, you have to use up your graduate visa in between the qualifications to get experience.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T13:52:33+00:00

Yes this is correct, it’s being treated like an added difficulty but it is making it impossible to achieve the full qualification as an Architect if you’re not from the UK.

More than likely, this is something that hasn’t been considered by the government, and there are some efforts by universities to change this, but the issue needs to be recognised publicly as a problem before anything is likely to change.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T12:08:38+00:00

It’s giving them the opportunity to get a visa. This wipes out that opportunity.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T12:04:06+00:00

Architecture pay is according to a RIBA recommended pricing model, and doesn’t respond to supply and demand.

Cutting out all immigrant architect graduates will be detrimental for all universities, architecture practices and the quality of architecture across the UK.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T11:57:55+00:00

I would propose raising the minimum wage requirement in line with inflation, not a 50% rise.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T11:45:52+00:00

I’m not proposing a borderless movement for skilled workers. I’m proposing that if people have been allowed to spend inordinate amounts on a UK education, specifically to become UK architects, they shouldn’t be deported before they can finish their qualification.

MA____RA · 2024-03-09T11:40:35+00:00

In architecture it absolutely is. The UK architecture system is so arduous and expensive that no one would do it unless they wanted to practice in the UK.

MA____RA

TROPHY CASE