4 min read13 November Exclusive: There is disagreement within the government over how big the new levy on international students should be.  The proposed levy on international student income, announced as part of the government’s Immigration White Paper in May, would see universities taxed for each overseas student they enrol. Ministers are expected to use the new levy to fund the reintroduction of selective maintenance grants, announced by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson at Labour Party conference in September, as well as the government’s skills agenda. The Labour government also wants to reduce net migration after high levels of legal immigration following the coronavirus pandemic.  When the policy was first announced, Labour MPs with universities in their constituencies expressed concern that it could exacerbate funding pressures facing higher education. While the levy was later all but confirmed as part of the Post-16 White Paper, the exact details of what form it will take are still being worked out, with more detail expected in the Autumn Budget later this month.  When first proposed, it was understood that the government was looking …