Better visa terms for researchers fail to quell international recruitment fears

Rising minimum salaries for work visas “will come at a cost” to attracting foreign talent

Fears are growing that an imminent toughening of the UK’s immigration system could come at a major cost to the UK’s research sector, despite the Home Office confirming better terms for PhD holders.

As part of efforts to push down levels of legal migration, the government is making the points-based immigration system introduced after Brexit more expensive. Even under the current regime, businesses and universities have said they are struggling to attract researchers from the EU.