UK to close the door on up to 120,000 international students from outside the EU who come to Britain to take 'below-degree-level' courses
The immigration minister, Damian Green, today confirmed the government's intention to bar tens of thousands of adult overseas students coming to study "below-degree-level" courses in Britain at all but "highly trusted" colleges.
He said that the 300,000-a-year student immigration programme was "a key focus of reform" because it accounted for two-thirds of migrants who enter Britain each year.
A Home Office consultation paper published today includes proposals to: • Restrict student visas to degree level and above for all but highly trusted sponsors.
• Introduce tougher entry criteria for adult students.
• Ensure students return overseas after their course.
• Limit entitlement to work on graduation or bring in dependents; Green said he recognised that the UK was the global destination of choice for many thousands of higher education students but added that the renewed drive to minimise abuse was needed to "take a further step towards our aim of reducing net migration to the UK to sustainable levels".
The publication of the consultation paper comes as it emerged that a cross-party group of MPs, including Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, are to voice their "profound concerns" to the home secretary, Theresa May, over the plans. They fear they will lead to the closure of some English language schools and other privately run colleges.
The package means that the home secretary will close the door on up to 120,000 international students from outside the EU who come to Britain to take below-degree-level courses – about 40% of the annual total.
The Home Office consultation paper published today forms a key part of the Conservatives' drive to reduce overall net migration from 215,000 in 2009 to "tens of thousands" by the time of the next general election.
MPs representing traditional English language school centres such as Brighton, Eastbourne and Malvern have joined those from more recent centres such as Sheffield in voicing their "profound concerns" to the home secretary over the moves.
It has been estimated that overseas students contribute £100m annually to the local economy in Brighton alone.
Tony Milns of English UK, which represents 440 English language colleges or schools, warned that some were likely to close: "A lot of MPs with language colleges or schools in their constituencies are concerned. They realise the economic and other benefits to their constituents of having foreign students spending money."
The publication of today's consultation paper was postponed a fortnight ago after the business secretary, Vince Cable, was inadvertently photographed holding a briefing paper warning against making the UK less attractive to overseas students.
Ministers say that their proposals will ensure that legitimate and high quality universities will be protected from the curb in overseas student numbers and the consequent key income flow from their higher fees.
Further curbs are expected on the 38,000 overseas students who graduate in Britain and then are allowed to stay on to work after their studies.
Green said that student visas had been handed out to those who were illiterate, of no fixed abode, or who thought that hospitality management "enabled someone to work in a hospital".
Universities UK said that the consultation over student visas had already caused considerable uncertainty as colleges were already recruiting students for the next academic year: "We do not think that international students should be counted as migrants. They are not here for economic reasons, their time in the UK does not count towards any later application for settlement, unlike workers, and they have no recourse to public funds," said the organisation's chief executive, Nicola Dandridge.
"International student recruitment is a major success story for the UK."