The number of international students studying at Scottish universities is at a record high. Statistics show that 89,975 students (29% of the total) come from countries other than the UK. Despite the positive cultural and economic impact they provide, these individuals are marginalised by government and society alike. 

This is a personal issue for me. You may have surmised, based on my rather… unique surname, that I was not born in Scotland. I am from New Jersey, USA; the son of a proud family of immigrants, many of whom emigrated from Sicily and Southern Italy in the early twentieth century. A century later, I too crossed the Atlantic for new opportunities - but in the opposite direction. 

It was August 2020. COVID was in full swing. As I nervously queued alongside my family at JFK International Airport in New York City, I wondered what the next four years would hold. I had been to Scotland a half dozen times, my parents worked here back in the 90s and kept in close contact with friends and former colleagues. But, as any holiday maker will know, there’s a massive difference between visiting a place and living there.

So why Scotland? My mum, a minister and uni professor, was set to begin a job in the Church of Scotland. My father, a teacher, would look for work in the Scottish educational system. My wee sister, not yet two years old, was coming along for the ride. And my siblings (I’m a triplet) were set to go to the University of Aberdeen alongside me. 

Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco with siblings Anna and John on a visit to ScotlandJosh Pizzuto-Pomaco with siblings Anna and John on a visit to Scotland (Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco)

Setting aside personal reasons (I wouldn’t have wanted to live an ocean away from my family at just 18), studying in Scotland was attractive for a number of reasons. First, despite international student fees averaging around £20,000 a year, the cost of attending a Scottish university was comparable, if not less expensive, than the top flight institutions back home. Second, part of me relished the opportunity to travel somewhere new. Scotland provided the opportunity to meet new people, expand my knowledge, and adopt a more international perspective. 

My first memory about stepping off the plane in Aberdeen was the crisp, sea air. Back in New Jersey, the August sun would lead to scorching temperatures, sometimes upwards of 37°C. In Aberdeen, it’s rare if the temperature rises past 20°C. We took a taxi to our new home - and were immediately quarantined for two weeks. Tough luck. 

Yet, soon enough, the time came to begin university, and four years of triumph and heartbreak flew by. My father, diagnosed with MND just months after we arrived in North East Scotland, died from the disease in September 2022. My mum became the minister of a church in Peterhead, the plucky ‘Blue Toon’ known for its fishing industry, where our family quickly made ourselves at home. And my siblings and I all graduated from Aberdeen University with first class honours degrees earlier this summer. 

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To be clear, my story is somewhat atypical of the average international student. For starters, I’m an English-speaking white man from the United States. By contrast, more than 19,000 international students come from China, with thousands more from places like India and Nigeria. I also had the privilege of family living nearby, a luxury that many international students don’t have.

International students who are members of ethnic minorities within the UK have often reported being racialised and made to feel like ‘the other.’ Couple feelings of loneliness with the potential for hostility from the public, and it's not surprising that the mental health of international students often suffers, according to a policy document released by the National Union of Students. 

Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco campaigning for student presidentJosh Pizzuto-Pomaco campaigning for student president (Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco)

Furthermore, due to a crackdown by the Tory government last year, most international students are unable to bring their dependents with them to the UK. The cost of applying for a student visa has increased by 35% since 2023, and the NHS surcharge has risen by 66%. Most egregiously, there seems to be a concerted effort to ensure international students are unable to stay in the UK after their course has been completed. New entrants to the labour market will have to make at least £30,960 pounds in order to secure a skilled worker visa. 

Previously, they only needed to earn £20,960. Those who don’t qualify for new entrant status will have to earn £38,700 in order to stay - an eye watering sum for students just out of university. While it was hoped a change in Westminster would reverse some of these policies, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has stated that Labour will uphold and continue the previous government’s migration plan.

Despite these challenges, international students are often some of the most engaged individuals when it comes to student democracy on university campuses. Last March, I stood for president of my university’s student union (I lost by 12 votes). The vast majority of candidates were international students. Some had just arrived in Scotland that January. Indeed, these students also provide a glimpse into rich cultures from across the world. We should welcome their participation. Societal contributions aside, international students also contribute to the UK economy. A report by Universities UK revealed that the activities of international students generated nearly £42 billion during the 2021/22 academic year. Each parliamentary constituency gained an average of £58 million in that timeframe.

Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco and brother John on trip homeJosh Pizzuto-Pomaco and brother John on trip home (Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco)

Let’s not sugarcoat the situation- Scottish universities rely on international students as a large source of income. For example, at the University of Aberdeen, three of every 10 students come from outside the UK. That’s in line with sector averages. Yet, these students paid £63 million in tuition in 2023, roughly 65% of the £97 million generated directly from fees. With data like this, it’s little wonder that international students have complained of feeling like ‘cash cows.’

So what’s next? My visa extension was recently approved for my masters programme at Glasgow Caledonian, after scrambling to make sure I paid the right fees, answered the questions correctly, and submitted the forms in time. I honestly don’t know what my future holds in the UK. £31,000 a year is a high salary, especially in the journalism industry. I might not earn enough for a worker’s visa. 

And if that happens, I’ll have to make that journey across the Atlantic once again, into another uncertain future.