london britain commission report thursday economic impact foreign students part increasingly heat debate whether include government target reduce migration tens thousands prime minister theresa may pressure drop international students britain immigration figure remain stubbornly high despite pledge interior minister seven years ago reduce 100,000 year high rat immigration britain major reason vote leave european union last year many officials argue foreign students contribute economy limit number genuine international students come uk study fact remain second popular global destination seek high education something proud interior minister amber rudd say statement understand important students around world high education sector key export country want robust independent evidence base value impact immigration long sensitive topic britain expansion european union take eastern european countries saw rat jump critics say put pressure public service hospitals others argue immigration help economy provide much-needed workforce include students immigration figure say britain fail acknowledge contribution make leave finish study international students make around quarter total immigration accord official figure data release thursday show net migration britain year march 2017 fell 81,000 246,000 people half leave eu citizens separate report happen international student migration office national statistics say evidence major issue non-eu students overstay entitlement stay 1.34 million nationals outside european economic area hold visa expire 2016/17 96.3 percent depart visa expire ons say another report another 0.4 percent depart visa expire 3.3 percent initially identify depart leave expire always clear commitment reduce net migration sustainable level detract determination attract international students around world immigration minister brandon lewis say since 2010 clamp abuse increase number genuine students come uk around world britain study effect foreign students economy