Statistics from the International Passenger Survey (IPS) carried out by the Home Office every year, is said to show about 90,000 of non-EU migrants do not leave the country after finishing their studies. However Annual Population Surveys and Home Office visa data suggest that this number stands at 30,000-40,000.
"The number of international students coming to the UK is falling, in part because of the Government’s efforts to cut net migration to the tens of thousands… Our research suggests that many of the students they are targeting may be phantom students who are no longer in the country," Marley Morris, a research fellow at IPPR, said as quoted by the institute on its website.
Unsurprising that May has rejected points-based system. Australian net migration proportionately twice as high as UK's.
— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) 4 сентября 2016 г.
The UK government is putting investments in the country at risk by "deterring genuine international students," though it should do its utmost to attract and secure funding following the Brexit vote, Morris added.
On June 23, the nationwide referendum on EU membership was held in the United Kingdom, in which 51.9 percent of voters supported the country leaving the bloc. Brexit supporters have used the migration issue as one of the main arguments to persuade people to vote for leaving the European bloc.