More overseas students propel early applications to record levels

I actually think you are right about this. This is what fuels the increase in applications from overseas. The statistics also state that 1 in 8 international students will also apply for asylum when resident in the UK (according to the THES). In a previous piece the THES also reported that applications for study from Afghanistan have substantially increased and that, for example, in the case of female Afghan students educated in the UK, a claim that they would suffer persecution by the Taliban government should they return would then make a compelling argument for asylum (as it indeed does). So I think these issues need to be taken into account. Of course we do need educated and skilled personnel (especially medical) in the UK as we don't produce enough of our own, though that might be the real problem we should be addressing first given that we have plenty of young people being educated in our system. Indeed in the case of overseas medical professionals, they are desperately needed in their country of origin and employing the best people here in the UK also has ethical considerations in my view.