Downing Street has said it is "categorically not reviewing" whether foreign students should be excluded from net migration figures.
The prime minister's spokesman clarified the government's position after earlier saying there would be an overall review of immigration policy.
The chancellor has suggested foreign students and highly skilled workers are not a major area of concern.
The government is committed to bring net migration down below 100,000. But according to Office for National Statistics estimates, net migration to the UK, rose to 333,000 in 2015 - the second highest figure on record.
In evidence to the Treasury Select Committee last Wednesday, Chancellor Philip Hammond said decisions about what was covered by the net migration target should be guided by public perception - and suggested highly skilled workers could be exempt.
