Morning, Tuesday, 8th December 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for international students in higher education in the UK, following reform to student migration, recruitment, student protections and provider compliance.
Areas for discussion include the introduction of the International Student Levy, sustainable international recruitment, university finance, institutional compliance and accountability, student experience and outcomes, and the UK’s position in the global education market.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss policy priorities and the implications of reform for university finances, student demand and institutional planning following publication of The UK’S International Education Strategy in January 2026, the revised student sponsor compliance framework introduced in June 2026, and draft legislation for the International Student Levy published in July 2026.
Also taking place ahead of the reduction of the Graduate Route to 18 months for applications from January 2027, delegates will consider key issues for graduate outcomes, employer demand and the contribution of international students to skills needs, research collaboration and regional economies, alongside priorities for maintaining a competitive and welcoming UK offer and long-term confidence in the UK as a study destination and international partner.
The agenda will examine priorities for the international student experience and global engagement, including forthcoming decisions on the Office for Students’ proposed Condition C6: Treating Students Fairly, student support, protection arrangements, and transnational education. Priorities for alignment of international education policy, migration control and provider regulation will be discussed, looking at balancing education exports, international partnerships and institutional sustainability, as well as how policy direction develops under the new Prime Minister.
Finances, recruitment & institutional sustainability
Attendees will consider implications of the £925-per-student levy from August 2028 for university finances, investment priorities and recruitment planning. This includes the design of the levy as a flat annual fee administered by the OfS, the allowance covering a provider’s first 220 international students, the exclusion of students taught wholly overseas, and the trial calculations planned for 2026-27 and 2027-28 ahead of first collection, alongside questions around the future role of international fee income in supporting institutional sustainability.
Discussion will assess the potential impact on student demand, affordability and the UK’s competitiveness, as well as priorities for course and country mix, admissions practice and recruitment forecasting, and agent oversight. Attendees will also consider potential implications of the strengthened compliance framework for institutional decision-making and long-term planning - with concern from some around the cumulative cost of reform, the scale of estimated levy liabilities, and the relationship between levy proceeds and wider funding for HE and skills.
Further discussion will look at volatility in postgraduate-taught recruitment, changing student demand, exposure to shifts in individual source markets and the position of smaller and specialist providers, and how ambitions for diversified and responsible recruitment can be sustained under evolving financial, regulatory and market conditions.
Compliance & accountability
In discussing implementation of the new student sponsor compliance framework, sessions will consider implications of strengthened regulatory expectations for providers, and priorities for meeting revised Basic Compliance Assessment thresholds - including the reduced visa refusal rate and increased enrolment requirement, and the course completion threshold rising for assessments from June 2027. The operation of red-amber-green ratings will also be discussed, and the use of intervention measures where concerns arise, including action plans and reductions in CAS allocation.
Discussion will examine responsibilities across universities, regulators and government, including approaches to monitoring compliance, supporting improvement and managing risk. Attendees will consider expectations around responsible recruitment and admissions, including entry standards, education agent oversight following the inclusion of the Agent Quality Framework in sponsor guidance, and the accuracy and clarity of information given to prospective students. Sessions will also address questions around delivery capacity, institutional readiness and consistency across different providers and recruitment models.
Student protection & the international student experience
Further sessions will consider priorities for improving the international student experience, including affordability, accommodation, access to support services and effective communication before and during study. Discussion will examine the practical implications of rising living costs, increased maintenance requirements, and wider pressures affecting student wellbeing, participation and success.
The scope and application of the Office for Students’ proposed Condition C6: Treating Students Fairly will also be considered, including implications for fair treatment and student protection plans. Attendees will assess approaches to complaints and continuity, and how providers can support positive outcomes for students studying through university campuses, partnerships and transnational education arrangements, including new requirements on subcontracted provision and the registration of larger franchise partners, alongside wider expectations around retention, completion and graduate outcomes, and the differing needs and experiences of international student cohorts.
Global engagement, partnerships & competitiveness
Further sessions consider the UK’s position within an increasingly competitive international education market and the role of international engagement in supporting institutional and national objectives, including the ambition in the International Education Strategy to grow education exports to £40bn a year by 2030. Delegates will discuss implementation of the UK's return to Erasmus+ from January 2027, continued participation in Horizon Europe, and opportunities for strengthening international research collaboration and academic partnerships. This also includes approaches to maintaining academic quality, protecting institutional reputation and supporting positive student outcomes across different international markets.
Discussion will examine growth in transnational education and overseas partnerships, including approaches to maintaining academic quality, protecting institutional reputation and supporting positive student outcomes across different international markets. Attendees will also consider the role of education exports, international collaboration and global engagement in supporting research excellence, innovation and long-term competitiveness.
Graduate outcomes, skills & economic contribution
The agenda will explore transitions from study to employment in the context of Graduate Route reform, considering implications for student choice, recruitment, employability and the UK's international attractiveness, including the shorter window available to graduates and employers to move into sponsored employment.
Delegates will assess the relationship between education policy, immigration arrangements and labour market demand, alongside priorities for supporting successful graduate outcomes and responding to employer needs across different sectors and regions. Discussion will also examine the wider contribution of international students and graduates to universities, communities and the economy, including impacts on research, innovation, skills development, regional growth and international influence, as well as implications for local communities and services.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Education; Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade; Department for the Economy, NI; Home Office; Migration Advisory Committee; and the Welsh Government.
