Campaigners have stressed that international students gaining a "lifelong fondness for the UK" is a "vital component of Britain's soft power", after the government announced it would scrap target numbers for international students in the UK.
It comes as part of a new international education strategy, with a focus on encouraging universities to open hubs overseas and a target of increasing global "education exports" to £40bn a year by 2030, according to reports.
The previous target for recruiting international students to study in the UK was set at 600,000 a year in 2019.
Naomi Smith, Chief Executive at Best for Britain, said:
“The irreplaceable value of international students from around the world enrolling in our world-class universities and, alongside their education, taking a lifelong fondness for the UK back to their home countries is a vital component of Britain’s soft power.
“As poll after poll has repeatedly shown, the public recognise international students’ economic and cultural contributions and see them as good for Britain, and their local economies.”