Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to make a comprehensive estimate of the number of non-EU international students who leave the UK at the end of their studies. [180558]

Mr Harper, Minister of State for Immigration: The Office for National Statistics long-term international migration data now include estimates of the numbers of students leaving the UK. The ONS has recently improved its methodology to make it easier to identify students in the emigration flows to give a more accurate measure of the contribution of students to overall net migration. These statistics, available for the first time in August 2013, showed an estimated 49,000 non-EU students left the UK in 2012 compared with 139,000 who arrived during the same year. Further analysis of these statistics will make it possible, in due course, to determine with greater certainty how many students leave the UK and how many stay for longer periods.

The Home Office has undertaken research using administrative data to improve our understanding of migrants coming to the UK, their countries of origin, their purpose for migrating and how long they stay. The research examines cohorts of migrants arriving in the UK and tracks their immigration status over the following five years. The Migrant Journey Third Report (2013)1 reported that around one in five (18%) of migrants issued student visas in 2006 have legally remained in the immigration system or settled in the UK after five years. In terms of settlement, those coming to the UK to study in 2006 contributed 13% of settlement grants in 2009, and 16% of grants in 2010 and 2011. The figures of course do not capture any students that may have remained unlawfully.

1 Home Office (2013) The Migrant Journey Third Report, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fil...

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