International students are often invisible victims of the Hostile Office. Their perceived temporary status and wealth to study internationally means that they are often disregarded in migrants’ rights advocacy, despite facing increasing restrictions on their immigration conditions in the UK. This is why we have conducted this research to understand how international students are treated by the Hostile Office.
Our new research has found that students are commodified and treated as an income stream. Their wellbeing and financial security are secondary to universities’ priority of collecting tuition fees, while harsh immigration policies mean that many struggle to meet stringent financial obligations, and are often unable to bring family with them. International students also experience lack of financial and wellbeing support from universities, heavy surveillance, restrictive immigration checks and threats of being reported to the Home Office. Another significant issue is problematic agents and recruitment practices, where students have been asked to pay additional fees or have been subjected to scams.
Our research also found that:
- 55% of international students reported negative effects on their mental health as a result of anti-immigration sentiment, isolation, visa worries and financial struggles
- 41% of international students said that they have been treated differently, with 31% experiencing discrimination in housing
- Survey respondents also reported discrimination from university staff including assumptions about their English-speaking ability based on their nationality
- 38% said that current visa compliance surveillance measures are too invasive
- 38% of students were involved in activism before but not at university, mostly because of worry over repercussions affecting their visa (56%)
Alongside an end to the Hostile Environment and dehumanising anti-migrant rhetoric, we call for
- Better support for international students by universities and Students’ Unions
- Clearer avenues for international students to complain and seek support when they have been failed by their universities
- An end to the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) status, which further harms international students, and places them at risk of destitution and suffering.
- Expanded university hardship funds that are accessible to international students
Read the report here.