Source: Mayor of London
- Mayor shares new analysis of major economic benefits from international students in speech hosted by Imperial College London’s new Ghana hub
- City Hall projections put annual economic benefit of overseas students at UK universities around £55bn, with £12.5bn from those based in London
- Sadiq will warn that ministers who want to “pull up the drawbridge to international students” would “slow down growth and leave working people in Britain worse off” as he stresses economic benefits of attracting the best global talent to study, work and live here
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is urging the government not to make it harder for international students to study in the UK as he reveals new analysis showing they contribute £12.5bn to the capital and £55bn to the national economy every year.
The Mayor is in Ghana today (Wednesday 16 July) as part of his historic five-day trade mission to Africa, banging the drum for the capital as a place to invest and strengthening ties with countries across the continent. A major speech in Accra will see Sadiq make the case for welcoming students from around the world, and warn that proposals for a new levy on their university fees would be damaging to London and the UK’s economy.
The UK Government is currently considering a new levy on income that English universities generate from international students as part of its immigration whitepaper, which could not only put students off coming here from overseas but also create a substantial extra financial burden for already stretched universities. The Mayor’s speech today will warn that this levy would be “an act of immense economic self-harm”.
Today the Mayor will deliver a keynote speech on the power of education, innovation and entrepreneurship to Ghanaian students hosted at Imperial College London’s Accra hub. With five per cent of London’s higher education population coming from Africa [1], he will stress that London is open to global talent and make the positive case for international study.
Latest analysis by London Economics revealed a more than £10 billion rise in the economic contribution of international higher education students to the UK economy, from £31.3bn in 2018/19 to £41.9bn in 2021/22 – leading City Hall economists to project it could hit £55bn in the current academic year on the basis of historical trends [2].
London accounts for almost a quarter of this national impact, representing around £10bn in the latest data and projected to reach £12.5bn this year [3]. International students in the capital created an average net benefit of £1,040 per Londoner over the course of their studies, as beyond their university fees they contribute by spending in all sectors of the economy and bringing family or friends to visit [4].
This positive economic impact spreads across the UK, with international students making a £58m net contribution to the national economy per parliamentary constituency during their studies – providing an equivalent £560 benefit for each local resident [5]. They also bring a longer-term labour market value, as many stay here after their studies to work in key economic sectors from tech and AI to finance and creative industries.
Imperial is the first UK university with a permanent base solely focused on science, technology and innovation in Africa – building on the rapidly rising number of advancements and breakthroughs Imperial has made working with researchers in Ghana over recent years. Imperial Global Ghana serves as an academic hub to support high-impact collaboration in cutting-edge fields from medical diagnostics to urban health and AI to climate science.
As well as current students, the Mayor will meet recent graduates including Shirgade Laryea, a Ghanaian alumna of Imperial College London’s Business School who is now a rising star in the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce. Other alumni success stories include Affinity bank founder Tarek Mouganie, Liquify fintech platform COO Alberta Asafa-Asomoah and former Anglo Gold Ashanti CEO Sir Sam Jonah.
The Mayor is expected to say in his speech: “There are people at home who believe we should pull up the drawbridge to international students, or punish universities that choose to welcome people from around the world.
“Our new analysis shows international students bring in tens of billions for our economy each year over the course of their studies, including £12.5 billion in London alone. And when they graduate, they go on to make our city – and our country – a better place to be.”
The Mayor will add: “Closing our country to global talent would be an act of immense economic self-harm – one that would slow down growth and leave working people in Britain worse off than before. That’s why I’m calling on our Government not to make it harder for international students to study in the UK.
“On my watch, London will be as open as ever… but I think we must do more. We cannot simply wait for the world to come to London; we must bring London to the world.”
Imperial College London President, Professor Hugh Brady, said: “Imperial Global Ghana creates a bridge between London and Accra so you get a flow of ideas, talent and capital. The hub supports hundreds of entrepreneurs and scientists in West Africa, and enables talented students to further their studies in London.
“International students are an essential part of Imperial’s global community. They bring diverse perspectives, new ideas, and fresh approaches to tackling today’s most complex challenges. We are pleased that London and the UK remains a top destination and welcoming environment for international students.”
Imperial Global Ghana Associate Director, Clare Turner, said: “A truly global city – and its universities – thrive when people with different cultural, social and intellectual perspectives come together. At Imperial Global Ghana, our focus is on building long-term equitable research and education partnerships that both inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators, and work towards a greater understanding of complex global challenges – such as climate change, the energy transition, and access to quality healthcare.”
University of Ghana Vice Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said: “It is a great honour to welcome the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, to Ghana and to the University of Ghana. His presence underscores the growing importance of global partnerships in shaping the future of education and innovation; we look forward to deepening these ties as we empower the next generation of changemakers on the continent and beyond.
“We are especially proud of our collaboration with Imperial College London – one that continues to thrive through initiatives such as the Impact Hub and other areas such as digital diagnostics, innovation and entrepreneurship, public health, environmental sustainability, and vaccine manufacturing clearly stipulated in a five-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024. This innovative cooperation is hinged on our five strategic priorities: transformative student experience, impactful research, commitment to our faculty and staff, engagement and partnerships, as well as sustainable resource mobilisation and stewardship.”
London Higher CEO, Liz Hutchinson, said: “London’s universities are world-leading because they are international, with overseas students enriching not just the economy but also the learning experience and the vibrant, creative communities that the capital is famous for. International graduates are crucial to London’s talent pipeline, joining the many businesses based here or as entrepreneurs.
“This is a time when we should be strengthening our position as a hub for talented individuals from across the world. The government’s proposed levy on international students does the opposite. With our partners in the sector, in industry and in London, we stand ready to collaborate with Government and sector colleagues to find alternative solutions that enhance rather than damage London’s international competitiveness.”
Universities UK Chief Executive, Vivienne Stern, said: “The Mayor of London will see first-hand the global reach of UK universities and their contribution to the cutting-edge research tackling shared challenges. He is right to champion the power of education, and this new analysis once again highlights the economic value of international students to the UK.
“We are fortunate to be a destination of choice for students from all over the world; they contribute to our research landscape and our communities, as well as enabling UK students to benefit from diverse perspectives. We should be proud of this and work hard to make sure that international students feel welcome.”
Business LDN Chief Executive, John Dickie, said: “At a time when some of our rivals are closing their doors to international students, the UK should do all it can to reinforce its attractiveness to talented people from across the globe.
“London is the world’s best city to study, but the Government’s plans to introduce a new levy on the income generated by overseas students risks damaging our competitiveness. Ministers should scrap these plans to avoid damaging growth, exacerbating the higher education sector’s financial challenges and undermining our soft power.”
Over the course of five days Sadiq will visit four cities – Lagos, Accra, Johannesburg and Cape Town – to boost trade links with London and build on extensive connections with the capital’s growing African diaspora. The Mayor’s growth agency London & Partners will also host a trade delegation of 27 London-based companies that are looking to grow their businesses and access opportunities in this dynamic and important region of the world.