MillionPlus response: International student levy technical consultation

MillionPlus has responded to the Department for Education's consultation on the technical detail of the international student levy.

The technical consultation document sought views on the technical detail of the announced policy, in areas including: scope, calculation and payment.

The submission emphasises the economic value of international students and warns that the levy could reduce recruitment in a highly competitive global market and cautions that the levy may have knock-on effects for course sustainability, regional economies and strategically important subjects.

The response calls for careful design and implementation, including clarity on scope, safeguards to avoid administrative burdens and unintended penalisation of institutions, and flexibility in payment arrangements. It also urges the Government to undertake thorough impact assessment and ongoing review to ensure the policy does not undermine wider skills, workforce and growth objectives.