International student levy: RGSU respond to the government consultation

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The Russell Group Students’ Unions (RGSU) has responded to the government’s technical consultation on proposals to introduce a levy on international students.

Under the proposal, English universities would be charged £925 per international student, with the first 220 students exempt from the levy. Across Russell Group institutions, this would amount to millions of pounds annually and risks creating a further disincentive for prospective international students at a time of growing global competition.

Representing over 250,000 international students across the UK, RGSU has raised serious concerns about the cumulative impact of recent government policy decisions on the world-class higher education experience offered by Russell Group universities.

We are concerned that the proposed levy could have far-reaching implications for institutions, students, and the wider sector. University finances are already under significant pressure, and international students are navigating an increasingly challenging policy environment. International students make a profound academic, cultural and economic contribution to the UK, and policy decisions should recognise and support that contribution. If institutions are forced to reflect the cost of the levy in increased international tuition fees, this could place additional financial strain on international students and risks undermining the UK’s attractiveness as a global study destination.

We believe that the additional cost burden could accelerate course, module and departmental closures, following cuts that have already affected students and staff across the sector. Further weakening of university financial resilience may have direct consequences for teaching, learning and research provision.

Importantly, we are calling for postgraduate research (PGR) students to be made exempt from the levy. With a significant proportion of doctoral research in the UK undertaken by international students, PGRs are central to the strength and sustainability of the UK’s research base. Exempting postgraduate researchers would help protect research talent pipelines, support research cost recovery, and ensure the UK remains competitive in attracting global academic talent.

Lexie Baynes, Union Affairs Officer, Trustee, and Governor of The University of Manchester Students’ Union, said:
”We stand in opposition to the levy, which does little but weaken the already broken financial state of the sector, exacerbate hostile environment policies, and further jeopardise the experiences of international students. We support international students and recognise their significant cultural and academic contribution to our campus and our communities.

Fee status and nationality should not determine who is able to access the transformative power of higher education and who isn’t. As a sector, we must do all we can to invest in international students in a way which matches the investment they make in us; and the consequential investment they bring to our communities, our learning and research, and our society.

We believe the government should work with the sector - students, staff, institutions and mission groups - in trying to identify alternative sustainable ways to fund higher education.”