London Mayor Opposes Proposed Levy on International Student Fees

What’s Happening?

The UK government is planning to introduce a new “levy” (a kind of extra tax) on the income that universities in England earn from international students’ tuition fees.

 Why Is This a Big Deal?

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, strongly disagrees with this idea. He believes:

• This move will damage the UK’s economy and is like “economic self-harm.”
• It will discourage international students from coming to study in the UK.
• UK universities are already under financial pressure, and this new fee would make things worse.

Why Are International Students Important?

• They bring £12.5 billion into London’s economy each year and £55 billion to the UK overall.
• Many stay after graduation and work in key sectors like tech, AI, finance, and creative industries.
• They help the UK stay globally competitive.

Sadiq Khan’s Message:

• “Instead of making it harder for students to come here, we should be welcoming global talent.”
• He criticized the idea of punishing universities that admit international students.
• He also compared it to Donald Trump’s anti-international student stance, saying the UK should do the opposite.

 Despite Opposition…

• The UK government still seems determined to go ahead with the new levy.
• A minister at the BUILA conference said it would help boost public confidence in international education.

 Current Status

• Not yet confirmed: The levy is still under review and hasn’t been enacted into law. Implementation requires approval, and more details will be released in the Autumn Budget.
• Accompanying student visa changes—such as shortening the Graduate Route Visa to 18 months—are also planned but not yet law.

Summary:

Sadiq Khan is warning that taxing universities on income from international students is a bad idea that could hurt the economy, reduce global talent, and harm universities. But the UK government still seems set to introduce it.

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