Written evidence submitted by the Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s (EUSA)

Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) represents 33,000 students currently studying at the University of Edinburgh, over 10,000 of which are from outside of the EU. We represent student interests at all levels, from the university and the local community to parliament. We support over 270 societies, as well as running four unions, a student volunteer centre and an advice service for students. We work closely with the University to ensure a world class student experience for all students at the University.

We are an active but autonomous member of the National Union of Students and work with them and other student unions in Edinburgh to promote student issues across the UK.

1. Reintroduction of the Post Study Work Visa

1.1 EUSA strongly believes that the UK Government should reintroduce the Post Study Work Visa or an alternative scheme that enables international students to work in the UK after they have finished their studies. We believe that the closure of the Tier 1 Post Study Work Visa has had a detrimental impact on higher education, the economy and society. In addition to this other policies such as healthcare charges, attendance monitoring and landlords checks are making our international students feel unwelcome. As a result potential international students are choosing to study elsewhere.

• Those aspiring to study in the UK are being discouraged from applying and the UK is losing out. Nineteen per cent of non-EU students would not recommend the UK as a place to study for a friend or relative (this is as high as 34, 36 and 38% for students from India, Nigeria and Pakistan respectively).[1]
• The UK risks falling behind other countries in the international higher education market. Since 2010 the number of non-EU students starting a course in the UK has grown by 3% (and decreased two years in a row). By contrast the number of new international enrolments in the United States between 2010 – 2014 grew by 26%.[2]
• The UK Parliament’s All Party Group on Migration has called on the Government to open a new route for work in the UK after graduation.[3]
• Seventy-five per cent of the general public think that international students should be able to study and work in the UK after graduation.[4]
• As well as paying substantial tuition fees, international students support local businesses in the towns and cities in which they live, and bring in an estimated £7 billion to the UK economy each year.[5]
• International students make our communities more culturally and socially rich.
• International students help UK students to develop into globally aware and culturally literate graduates.

2. Case studies

2.1 Edinburgh graduate, 2014

"The lack of post-study work visa induces a huge amount of stress during an already-crucial time at University. With very few options left, I spent months applying for roles, and finally got a job in a third-sector organisation I wished to work for. I then got a call a day later saying they were unwilling to go through the visa process. This happens throughout the process, which grows even more hopeless as the visa deadline grows closer. While I ended up being lucky and finding one of the very few jobs left at firms with a visa process in place, plenty of my talented friends were less lucky, friends who call Scotland their home and cannot be here anymore. The return of this visa enables more people who identify with this country to contribute to it too."
 

2.2 Second year Chinese and Linguistics student, 2015

“I am from the United States, but have absolutely loved living in Scotland for the past year and a half, and hope to enjoy many more years here. When I graduate from my 4-year undergraduate degree, all of my work experience and professional/academic network will be based in Edinburgh. I have made fantastic connections and have built up a lot of work experience here, but that will be hard to transfer to another country. Also, without a work visa, I will not be able to continue doing the job I have now after I graduate, even though it is in the field I would ideally like to be working in.

“Additionally, during my 4th year, I will be looking for employment. I will have to look for jobs exclusively outside the UK, because it is extremely rare that someone with only an undergraduate degree could get a work visa in the UK. It will be a lot harder to find those jobs if I can't go in to interviews or network, since I will still be in the UK. This is an added stress to finding employment after graduation in the first place, which could affect my studies.

“The University of Edinburgh, and Scotland as a whole, educates so many international students, who then are sent home promptly after graduation. These are people who have been educated in some of the most prestigious universities in the world, who have networks and experience in Scotland, and who no doubt feel quite connected to Scotland. These are the kind of people who can bring a lot to the workforce and the economy, and who are more than happy to be productive members of society. These are skilled people, who have good training and education, but who will have to relocated and start their lives over again in a different place.

2.3 Second year Linguistics student, 2015

“The Post-Study Work Visa is by no doubt an appealing option to both current students and to the Scottish economy. The dissolution of the scheme introduced undue difficulties onto those students who would otherwise contribute beneficial skills to Scottish Industry and establish themselves in Edinburgh. As such I fully support the renewal of the scheme in hopes of having the opportunity to start my career here.

2.4 Third year English Literature student, 2015

“I am an American international student in my 3rd year of an English Literature MA. Since the beginning of secondary school I have loved theatre and planned to become a professional stage manager as my career. Since coming here, I have fallen in love with Scotland. Unfortunately, these two things are completely incompatible. Salaried jobs in the arts are very difficult to come by, as most of the work is freelance. What jobs there are usually given to freelancers the institution already knows and trusts. With my Tier 4 visa, I have no time to build the professional relationships that might allow me to get a job that would keep me in the UK and working in my field. As it stands, I have no choice but to go back to America, and while I hope to one day return, I know my chances are very, very slim. It breaks my heart to know I have to leave Scotland to lead the life I want to lead.”

December 2015