Universities Scotland welcomes the opportunity to input evidence into the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) consideration of salary thresholds for tier 2 visas for international (non-EU) students. MAC will consider this issue in two tranches: the first tranche, analysing pay thresholds,and tranche two, the wider review, will be completed by December.

We have chosen to make a separate response to that of Universities UK (UUK) in order to draw on data for Scotland and Scottish institutions where possible as there are different demographic, economic and political differences of relevance to this inquiry in Scotland. However, we fully support UUK’s submission to the inquiry.

Tier 2 is a route used by new graduates of UK universities of international (non-EU) nationality who want to work in the UK. It is also the route by which international (non-EU) staff employed by universities can work in the UK. Therefore, this submission responds on behalf of universities both as recruiters of international students and as employers of international staff.

Universities Scotland disagrees with the premise from which the MAC consultation begins. We do not want to see a reduction in the number of visas allocated under the Tier 2 route. We want to see an increase in opportunities for highly-skilled graduates to stay and work and contribute to Scotland’s economy. Our response to the inquiry sets out some initial comments before it answers each of the MAC’s questions in turn.

Read Universities Scotland’s submission on 5 July,to the inquiry here.

Read Universities UK submission on 3 July, to the inquiry here.

The Migration Advisory Committee Review of Tier 2: Analysis of Salary Thresholds can be read here.