‘A case of national self-sabotage.’ That’s how the House of Lords science and technology committee characterizes the UK’s strategy for luring global STEM talent. The government claims it aims to draw in top researchers, yet its immigration policies are complicating this process, due to a convoluted and costly visa system along with other substantial initial expenses.
Unveiled in June, the government’s industrial strategy outlines various efforts to entice international talent, including a new global talent taskforce that will report to the prime minister and seek opportunities to enhance the UK’s appeal. A new £54 million global talent fund is intended to bring 10 elite researchers and their teams to the UK over the next five years, while new Turing AI global fellowships designed for overseas researchers will allocate £25 million for AI research at UK institutions. Certain professions, including engineering technicians and data analysts, will be exempt from anticipated increases in the pay threshold for the skilled worker visa.
The immigration white paper released in May proposed a streamlined process for the global talent visa, commonly utilized by researchers to enter the UK, aiming to broaden access to ‘promising’ talent in addition to established figures. It also included intentions to double the number of universities eligible for the high potential individual visa.
The burden of immigration challenges on UK chemistry
Nevertheless, existing visa and immigration regulations continue to create considerable obstacles for the R&D sector, according to Edmund Derby, policy officer at the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE). ‘A major factor in this troubling situation is the challenge of advocating for skilled immigration amid the wider national discussion on immigration, which predominantly focuses on curtailing net migration.’ Moreover, surveys indicate that most of the public back a system that facilitates researchers coming to the UK. Furthermore, global talent visas represent about 4000 individuals annually, accounting for under 1% of the overall immigration totals in 2024. All visas issued for science, research, and engineering positions dropped by a third in the latter half of 2024 compared to the same timeframe the previous year, Derby points out.
“Our visa system is among the priciest globally,” Alison Noble, the Royal Society
‘The UK’s communication regarding immigration is, at best, ambiguous,’ states Alison Noble, foreign secretary of the Royal Society. ‘The white paper mentioned making it simpler and more straightforward for research talent to enter the UK. Nonetheless, our visa system remains one of the most costly in the world. Our findings indicate that the initial costs of UK visas are 17 times greater than the average across similar scientific nations, and a family of four could incur expenses exceeding £20,000 to move to the UK. Escalations like the 32% increase to the immigration skills charge [fees imposed on UK employers hiring individuals on specific visas] will only further hinder talent attraction and retention.’
The global talent environment is fiercely competitive, she continues. ‘In light of the global uncertainty from US reductions in federal science funding, which show no indications of resolution, the UK requires a visa system that appeals to a diverse array of skilled individuals and a clear message that the UK is welcoming to researchers eager to explore innovative ideas and advance their careers.’
The perspective of chemistry
‘Government immigration policies are not beneficial for universities,’ asserts Matt Jones, head of the chemistry department at the University of Bath. ‘The competitive landscape for attracting talent to the UK has intensified significantly. PhD recruitment, in particular, has been challenging in recent years. Securing the talent we need as chemists is difficult, with increasing initial costs related to visa applications, healthcare [such as the immigration health surcharge for NHS access], etc. This is intensified by the international fees for some EU PhD students. At Bath, we are fortunate to have noticed an uptick in institutional support to draw top PhD students from abroad.’
“Establishing an immigration climate that is solely appealing to applicants who are single, without families, and typically male is deeply detrimental,” Craig Butts, University of Bristol
Attracting the very finest talent sometimes conflicts with the government’s immigration policy, states Derek Wann, head of the department of chemistry at the University of York. While initiatives like global talent visas are beneficial for securing top researchers, he has observed that steep visa fees and stringent regulations regarding dependants discourage some candidates. ‘This affects recruitment at all levels, from PhD hopefuls and postdoc applicants to seasoned senior scientists. The financial strain that new hires face, along with additional bureaucratic obstacles, fosters a perception that the UK is less inviting. We have seen that, particularly those with families are frequently opting for other countries with simpler and more affordable immigration processes.’
Craig Butts, head of the chemistry department at the University of Bristol, notes that although he still manages to recruit outstanding individuals, he has also seen great talent leave the