The net benefit of Graduate Route reached £70m in the first full year, research shows

These latest findings emerge from a fresh report titled "The Exchequer Benefits and costs associated with the Graduate Route Visa." This report marks the inaugural in-depth analysis of both the financial advantages and drawbacks to the UK following the implementation of the Graduate Route visa, covering its inaugural full tax year.

Conducted collaboratively by the Higher Education Policy Institute, Kaplan International Pathways, and the National Union of Students, with research spearheaded by London Economics, this study arrives just ahead of the Migration Advisory Committee's imminent presentation of its review on the Graduate Route, as requested by the government.

Nick Hillman, Director of the HEPI, emphasized the expedited nature of the MAC's review, driven by government mandate, which has precluded the gathering of evidence. He expressed concerns that pivotal decisions may hinge on scanty data.

Hillman stressed the necessity for policy recommendations to be firmly grounded in comprehensive evidence. Hence, concerted efforts have been made swiftly to furnish crucial insights into the operational dynamics of the Graduate Route visa