London Mayor Sadiq Khan has slammed the UK government’s proposal to levy extra fees on universities based on international student enrollments.
The UK government has proposed a new policy requiring universities to pay a levy for every international student they admit—framed as a quality control measure. However, critics argue this would discourage global talent, hurt university finances, and send the wrong message.
Mayor Sadiq Khan has called it “economic self-harm,” highlighting that international students bring £40 billion annually to the UK economy.
“This move is shortsighted and harms both our academic standing and our global goodwill,” Khan stated.
Universities UK and student unions have echoed the concern, urging the government to support—not restrict—diversity in British education.
