A SNP MP has slammed proposed Tory immigration laws which will prevent most foreign students from bringing dependents into the UK.
The UK Government confirmed on Tuesday that overseas students, apart from postgraduates on research programmes, will be banned from obtaining visas for their dependants.
The move was announced ahead of figures on Thursday which are expected to show net migration running at record levels.
Experts have warned it could hit universities which rely on foreign student fees and could also harm the UK’s reputation as an international destination.
SNP Home Affairs spokesperson Alison Thewliss suggested the policy could affect Scottish universities.
She said: "Suella Braverman is clinging to the Tory hostile environment in a desperate attempt to keep her job.
"It is deeply frustrating to hear the message being sent out today from the Home Secretary that international students are only welcome if they spend money on fees and then leave as quickly as possible.
"The truth is that International Students bring significant benefits to Scotland and the rest of the UK. Recent figures show that international students based in Glasgow Central alone are worth £292 million to the UK economy, £2,720 per local resident.
"Education is a global market, with other countries like Canada, the US and Australia fighting for market share; anything that makes the UK less attractive means students will simply take their money, skills and enthusiasm elsewhere.
"Scotland has a track record of welcoming international students to our globally-recognised universities - the only way we can maintain this reputation is by securing control over immigration policy with independence."
There are currently 82,440 students from outside the UK in Scotland.
The University of Edinburgh has the most international students with 18,050. The University of Glasgow is second with 17,390.
Some 136,000 visas were granted to dependants of sponsored students across the UK in 2022.
This was an increase from 16,000 in 2019 when the Tory election manifesto committed the party to reducing net migration.
The new restrictions are set to apply to overseas students beginning courses after January 2024.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman could potentially lose her job this week as there have been suggestions that she broke the ministerial code. She has also come under pressure from within her own party over the increase in immigration to the UK.
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