This highly anticipated session welcomed international students from across the UK to London, providing them with a platform to speak truth to power.
Speaking to a diverse group of stakeholders – including university representatives, policymakers, agents, and service providers – students shared candid insights into their experiences: what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to change to improve the journey for future cohorts.
- Quality attracts, but well-being matters
The UK’s strong academic reputation remains a key attraction for international students, with some saying it gave the UK the edge when choosing between other English-speaking destinations. However, alongside this prestige comes a high-pressure environment that some students feel isn’t taken seriously enough.
Students at the roundtable highlighted the need for universities to expand well-being support, emphasising that academic success and mental health go hand in hand.
“Sometimes we have a very high pressure environment and it isn’t taken very seriously because they are very focused on the student’s academic performance,” one student told delegates.
“I think actually if the focus somehow switches to their well-being and how they’re doing, how they are being treated within the institution as well, their academic performance as a result of that would improve as well,” they added.
- Employers need more awareness of the Graduate Route
The Graduate Route is here to stay, remaining a vital pathway for international students eager to launch their careers in the UK, allowing them to apply their skills and education in the workforce. However, many students feel they are being overlooked for jobs simply because they require sponsorship – despite the fact that sponsorship isn’t immediately necessary.
Some shared that employers misinterpret the Graduate Route, assuming it involves complex processes or sponsorship from the outset, leading them to dismiss international applicants too quickly.
Students called for greater employer awareness of how the route works, its benefits for businesses, and the valuable skills international graduates bring. Many also felt that government-level promotion of the scheme would help reinforce its legitimacy. UK employers must recognise the Graduate Route as a valid right to work, ensuring international students have a fair shot at career opportunities.
While the roundtable primarily provided a platform for students to share their experiences, one delegate offered advice on navigating these challenges:
“Be confident in your pitch to employers. You need to practise that and figure out how you can promote your benefit to that employer,” they shared.
“Figure out what skills that you have as an international student, whether that’s technical skills, whether that’s research you’ve done, or something that will be the hook that maybe other students who aren’t international students don’t have.”
- Housing challenges persist for international students
Students raised serious concerns about private accommodation, from poor living conditions to unfair pricing. One student shared how their health had deteriorated due to a persistent mould issue, with their landlord refusing to take action.
“There needs to be more protection of students. Someone needs to regulate the conditions in which we all live,” they shared.
Another student highlighted the sharp increase in rent when trying to rebook the same room for another year.
“I had an issue with rebooking a room for next year. Now, when I got the quote regarding the same room, at the same level, with nothing changing, the quote was around £1,500 higher than what I’m currently paying,” they said.
The lack of quality, affordable accommodation disrupts students’ studies and shapes their overall perception of the UK as a study destination. Some described these housing practices as exploitative and predatory, calling for better regulation to protect international students from unfair treatment.
