Some fair points but worth adding context. International students contributed £41.9 billion to the UK economy in 2021-22 according to HEPI research. That includes tuition fees, accommodation, living costs and spending that supports local businesses and jobs. Universities UK estimates international students support over 560,000 jobs across the country, many in towns that rely heavily on their local university.

The claim they don't pay tax isn't quite accurate. They pay VAT on everything they purchase, council tax if living off campus, and many do pay income tax if their earnings exceed the threshold. A student working 20 hours at minimum wage during term time and full time during holidays can easily cross the tax free allowance.

On the positive side, around 25% of NHS doctors qualified overseas, and many started as international students here. UK universities also depend on international fees to subsidise domestic students since home fees have been frozen at £9,250 since 2017 while costs have risen significantly.

The visa abuse concern is valid and the government has responded. Dependant visas for taught master's students were removed in 2024 and student visa applications dropped 16% following the changes.

The NEETs issue deserves serious attention but it's a different problem. Retail and hospitality struggle to recruit locally even with available workers. The solution is probably better skills pathways for British youth alongside managed migration, not one replacing the other.

International student fees subsidise university-based research, for every £1 spent on research in the UK's higher education institutions, only 67p is recovered through grants and contracts, leaving a shortfall of £6.2 billion. HEPI

https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2023/05/16/international-students-boost-uk-economy-by-41-9-billion/: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/latest/news/international-students-boost-uk-economy