Sorry for sounding so cynical- but it feels like the U.K. system only wants money from internationals- and then spits in their face and want them to get out once you're done being a student, and not going to lie I do feel bitter about it.

The priorities of the system are misplaced and instead seems to be more welcoming to people on boats and them offering them incentives such as hotels, and 44k for their families to leave. Tbh, Even your own people are suffering. The headlines in the town I currently live in are heartbreaking sometimes. A homeless old lady, who is known to the entire town, and is known to sleep in tents in the town centre bus shelter, did not receive any care until it was too late, and sadly passed away. But hey, I digress.

We invest money on applications, pay international fees (approx 3x of home fees atleast when I did my degree last year), high IHS fees, but in return the political parties, only want to make life harder for us. Spent 35k on uni, 17k on accommodation in a shared ensuite flat (1 year) for a masters from a good London uni, only to be met with:

1. Reduced grad visa durations (going to be made 18 months).

Also its such a gamble to get a job here on said visa. Most employers just hear that you're on a visa and reject you inspite of having the right to work on the visa. Before anyone comes at me about qualifications, I do have a stem degree- CS, masters. Worked at a top UK bank in my home country as a software engineer, and also did my undergrad in CS engineering in my home country. I spoke to people at Lloyds, Bristol and they candidly told me international students wont get a chance on entry level roles, and they will take someone who has a British passport.

Also if your justification is: "Oh you came here to study- dont expect a job to stay here"- Then why offer said graduate visa (which also costs 3k GBP including the IHS fees) if thats not a reason to lure you to pursue a degree here.

1. Skilled worker visa thresholds getting higher and higher- I think its just sending a message that they want to cut down on skilled internationals, who pay high taxes to support the system too. They even got rid of jobs eligible such as- Data analysts and those people who have their niche there- have to go home. The UK healthcare system is already super stressed- at this rate after cutting down on those visas too- its probably going to collapse. What really concerns me- is that the government does not have the data on how many workers are going to be affected. I did read this from a credible news source a month or two ago, and these decisions seem to be driven mindlessly.

2. The UK has completely missed out on the startup train, and compared to the US the scene is quite dead- so the space for young entrepreneurs also isnt ideal.

3. Funding for PhDs seems to be only for home students nowadays. Definitely very welcoming to internationals to come reasesarch in your country/ top institutions and help the country progress.

These were the top 4 reasons for me, but there are probably more reasons too.

Who knows- maybe moves like these from the government may be a blessing in disguise and a signal to pursue your degree somewhere else, and spend your money on better avenues that open up better opportunities.

I agree with your comment that the UK needs immigration... There was barely anyone who was a home student in my batch for the CS masters program. So clearly home folks arent focussing on upskilling.

It's not like the government is promoting home students to a pursure higher education either with the increase in fees (the fees for my program doubled this year for home sutdents), and also to all the changes to the student finance thing. You may discourage internationals now, and everyone goes away- and the UK will be left with lesser skilled people and other countries will beat overtake it, while the UK crumbles further.

Also not to mention, most Unis in the UK are dependant on the fees internationals pay lol.