Why Student Visas make Headlines
Wed Feb 04 2026
There is growing uncertainty around what studying in the UK really offers international students today. With visa rules tightening, costs rising, and political rhetoric becoming increasingly hostile, many students are left questioning their future long-term after graduating from U.K. institutions.
In this episode of Yours Lawfully, we explore why student visas have become such a charged issue in the UK. Joined by Dr Mihnea Cuibus from the Oxford Migration Observatory, we look beyond the headlines to understand what the data actually tells us about student migration. Our conversation covers post-Brexit visa reforms, cross-party support for restricting student numbers, the lasting impact of the pandemic, and why international students so often find themselves at the centre of the public and media debate.
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There is growing uncertainty around what studying in the UK really offers international students today. With visa rules tightening, costs rising, and political rhetoric becoming increasingly hostile, many students are left questioning their future long-term after graduating from U.K. institutions. In this episode of Yours Lawfully, we explore why student visas have become such a charged issue in the UK. Joined by Dr Mihnea Cuibus from the Oxford Migration Observatory, we look beyond the headlines to understand what the data actually tells us about student migration. Our conversation covers post-Brexit visa reforms, cross-party support for restricting student numbers, the lasting impact of the pandemic, and why international students so often find themselves at the centre of the public and media debate.