Universities warn new immigration rules show Britain is ‘closing ranks’
New immigration rules could prevent universities from hiring the best international talent and send a message that the UK is “closing ranks”, higher education leaders have warned.
Academics and University bodies have told Sky News an increase in the minimum salary for a skilled worker visa effectively prices out early career academics and researchers vital to driving innovation.
Some 32% of academic staff at British universities are from overseas but this week Home Secretary James Cleverley announced the minimum salary threshold for a skilled visa would increase from £26,200 to £38,700, well above the early-career academic average of £30,000-£35,000.
In addition, foreign workers will see the NHS surcharge, a healthcare fee that has to be paid upfront, increase from over £600 to more than £1,000.
University leaders fear the pay gap will damage their ability to compete for the best talent in a genuinely international market, with research funds potentially having to be diverted to top-up salaries.
“The increase in the skilled worker general salary threshold requirement is really significant. The category of people it’s going to impact on is precisely the early career and postdoctoral researchers who are so vital,” said Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, vice-chancellor of St Andrews and president of Universities UK.
“Many of the people we employ as postdocs are not at that salary level, so the implications are that this will bring in another cost precisely at the point where we’re struggling.
“The message this sends to the potential workforce is that the UK is not really seeking to boost its economy, but is rather closing ranks.”
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Cleverly confirms Jenrick’s resignation after govt immigration row
‘Any extra obstacles are bad obstacles’
Dame Sally also warned the increased costs could undermine the government’s ambition for the UK to be a science and technology “superpower”.
The prime minister and chancellor have repeatedly acknowledged there is a direct link between the innovation in Britain’s genuinely world-class universities and the high-growth industries of the future such as life sciences and AI.
Dame Sally added: “The government has got to look very hard at what message it wants to convey. If we are saying the UK is seeking to boost its economy and be a global player then it needs a constructive, engaged and really creative policy towards the employment of vital talent we need from all over the world.”
Professor David Kent, who runs a leukaemia research program at the University of York’s department of biology, says the added costs of hiring from overseas could deter people from joining a staff that already includes Polish, Swedish, Mexican and Chinese staff.
He explained: “People are now going to be faced with a choice. I’m going to say I’d like to interview you, and they will ask, ‘what does my future look like if I’ve got this thousand pounds a year for my health care surcharge, for every member of my family, paid upfront for the duration of my visa, and I’ve got to meet this minimum salary?’.
“If you’re a German postdoc looking at positions in Germany, France or the UK, these are extra obstacles and any extra obstacles to bringing the best and brightest here are bad obstacles and we need to work around those.”
Read more:
How new rules are tearing families apart
Net migration to UK reaches record-breaking figure
Skilled worker changes and other new rules – explained
Home Office defends visa routes despite concerns over students
Under the current visa regime, there are a number of discounts to paying full salaries that universities can apply to certain categories of employees, but the Home Office was unable to confirm whether they will apply under the new rules.
They said alternative routes for academics will still apply, including the Global Talent path for highly skilled migrants who do not require a visa.
“While net migration remains too high, putting a strain on public services, we have a world-leading range of visa routes to attract international talent into our technology sector and support international founders set up companies in the UK,” a Home Office spokesperson said.
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Why is immigration at record levels since Brexit?
The higher education sector is already under acute financial pressure with universities heavily reliant on overseas students to underwrite capped domestic fees, which do not cover the cost of delivering education, leading to a debt burden of around £1bn.
There are concerns that a review of the student visa regime also announced this week could further undermine the UK’s competitiveness.
With students accounting for more than a third of net migration last year, the government has already tightened the rules on students bringing their dependents to this country.
Currently, students can transition to a two-year work visa after three years but that is under review.
University leaders point out that countries like Australia permit at least three years of work with dependents.
Former British heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua delivered a dose of reality to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul as he won their much-anticipated showdown.
Joshua scored three knockdowns before landing a huge right hit on Paul halfway through the sixth round.
The British fighter lifted Paul’s hand in a show of respect after the fight broadcast on the streaming platform Netflix.
Joshua landing the right hit that knocked out Paul. Pic: AP
“Jake Paul has done really well tonight. I want to give him his props, he got up, time and time again,” he said about his opponent.
Joshua said it “wasn’t the best performance”, adding: “It took a bit longer than expected. But the right hand finally found the destination.”
Joshua celebrating his win after the fight. Pic: Reuters
Meanwhile, Paul said: “I’m feeling good, that was fun. I love this sport. I gave it my all, It’s f****** crazy. I had a blast.
“I got my ass beat, but that’s what this sport is about. I’mma (going to) come back and keep on winning.”
He added: “I just got tired to be honest. He did amazing and hits really hard.”
Jake Paul was knocked down three times before the final knockout in the sixth round. Pic: Reuters
The fight marked the end of a 14-month hiatus for Joshua, 36, while for 28-year-old Paul it was the biggest fight since his boxing career began in 2020.
At the weigh-in on Friday, Joshua boasted an almost two-stone advantage over Paul, who has regularly fought at cruiserweight since he entered the world of boxing.
Britain’s two-time world heavyweight champion tipped the scales at 243.4lbs (17st 5lbs) for his fight against Paul in Miami, while Paul weighed in at 216lbs (15st 6lbs) – a hefty 1.9st difference.
Joshua, who could not weigh more than 245lbs, is the lightest he has been since his first fight against Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021 when he was 240lbs. For his last fight against Daniel Dubois he weighed 252.5Ibs.
Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua at the weigh-in. Pic: Reuters
It is also only the second time that Paul weighed in over cruiserweight limit – the other time was when he fought 58-year-old Mike Tyson. Paul defeated Tyson by unanimous decision with 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73.
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Family of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe pay tribute to ‘beautiful soul’ as teen appears in court charged with murder
The family of a nine-year-old girl stabbed to death have said she was a “beautiful soul” who was brave, kind-hearted and “always put a smile on people’s faces”.
Police were called to Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, just before 6.10pm on Monday, where Aria Thorpe had suffered a single stab wound.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a tribute released by Avon and Somerset Police on Friday, the girl’s family on her mother’s side said: “For those who didn’t have the privilege of knowing Aria, she was the most beautiful little soul – happy-go-lucky, full of light, and joy.
“She loved to sing and dance, and she took such pride in dressing up, always wanting to look just like her mummy.”
Tom Thorpe, the girl’s father, said: “It’s hard to put into words how devastating it is, our little Aria, that you’re up there with the angels looking over us.”
It comes as a 15-year-old boy charged with Aria’s murder appeared in court.
Pic: Avon and Somerset Police
Aria was a ‘precious girl’
In their statement, Aria’s family on her mother’s side said her death “has devastated us beyond words”.
“Our hearts are broken in a way we never imagined possible,” they added.
“As a family, we are holding one another close and doing everything we can to support each other through this unimaginable time.”
They said they were “truly touched by the lovely messages we have received”, before asking “that our privacy is respected, as we try to come to terms with the terrible loss of our precious girl”.
Flowers laid in memory of the young girl
‘Wacky ways and outright madness’
Mr Thorpe said: “How sad it’s going to be not hearing ‘Dad, how long left?’ on our long journeys back and forth at weekends.
He then said that Aria was “such a brave, kind-hearted and a beautiful innocent soul”, and “always put a smile on people’s faces with your wacky ways and just outright madness”.
Mr Thorpe added: “Your other little family down here in Portsmouth will forever miss you.
“We’ll miss you begging to go outside, even in the pouring rain just to have as much fun as possible in the little time we had at weekends.
“You will be greatly missed, you special little angel. A life gone far too early but I hope a life lived well. We all love you dearly. Goodnight darling.”
Teenager in court
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy charged with Aria’s murder appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, where he was remanded.
The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, was arrested in the Somerset village of Worle at 6.19pm on Monday.
He is next due in court on 16 March 2026. Appearing via video link from youth detention accommodation, he spoke only to confirm his name.
Judge Peter Blair KC set a provisional trial date for 15 June during the hearing.
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