No student should have to suffer financial hardship whilst completing their education. That should be the case regardless of fee-status, identity or how far away you live from your campus. However, at present international students, often incurring huge fees to study in the UK, are not afforded the same opportunities to study without worrying about their finances on a day-to-day basis.

GSU Officer and President-elect, Anuj Baral, is campaigning for an end to the student visa working hour cap, which sees non-EU international students unable to work in paid employment beyond 20 hours during term. Data from GSU's cost-of-living research shows that international students have significantly less expendable income to live on, and are more likely not to be able to pay for their essentials. This puts international students faced with stark choices of taking on further debt, working illegally, or dropping out of their courses.

In January, Anuj launched a national petition asking the government to lift the cap on student visa working hours to face up to the immediate crisis. We are calling on all students nationally to show their support for this vital campaign by signing our letter, and encourage you to make your voice heard through collective action. 

Sign the petition