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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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