COVENTRY economy faces a huge hit as the Government clamps down on student visas.
The city could lose chunks of the more than £150million it gains from international students as the government looks to cut numbers.
Data shows that every Parliamentary constituency is £58million better off because of international students.
Coventry has three constituencies and two universities.
The government is seeking to control immigration by cutting student numbers.
Restrictions on some student visas and political rhetoric have been blamed for a 40 per cent year-on-year drop in international student recruitment at English universities in January’s intake.
The government is now examining potentially restricting or closing the Graduate Route Visa which lets post-graduated work in the UK after their studies.
Prof John Latham CBE, vice-chancellor and CEO of Coventry University Group, said: “The government is causing significant economic harm to communities like Coventry for the sake of chasing a few misguided headlines.
“There is a perception that international students are a burden on the economy but the opposite is true as they spend money here and do not use many public services.
“We have already seen a huge drop in January’s intake which is having an enormous impact on our finances and will soon start to put a big dent in the city’s economy.
“We are a major employer and support lots more jobs indirectly and international students spend a lot of money in the city centre.
“Further changes to student visas will cause greater harm.”
