Visa rules mean UK is 'unwelcoming' for foreign students

Stricter rules on student visas give the impression that the UK “does not welcome international students”, say higher education experts.

Yesterday it was announced that, from November, educational institutions would lose their status as a highly trusted sponsor if 10 per cent of students recruited by the university or college are refused visas. The current threshold stands at 20 per cent.

Writing in the Telegraph, David Cameron said that “the most egregious examples” of abuse of the immigration system were those “enrolling at bogus colleges”. He added that the new measures would ensure “colleges do proper checks on students”.

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said: “Sadly, I think it is yet more evidence that the Home Office is more interested in headlines than working co-operatively with the university sector to resolve any genuine problems that exist.

“It is bound to encourage the idea that the UK does not welcome international students yet further.

"It is notable that this latest crackdown has not been matched by a sensible liberalisation – like removing genuine students from the net migration target, which has been called for by half a dozen cross-party select committees.”

The University of Buckingham has the highest proportion of international students in the UK, with over half coming from overseas.

A spokeswoman for the university said that while visa refusal rates were well below the 20 per cent threshold last year, a “reduction to 10 per cent will place enormous burdens on universities at a time when recruitment of international students is so crucial to the UK economy and for the survival of reputable institutions".

In April, a study from the Higher Education Funding Council for England suggested that the number of international students recruited by English universities had dropped for the first time in 30 years – reversing a long-term upwards trend.

With around 30 per cent of institutions’ total income coming from foreign students, the study warned that the decline could have a “major impact” on university finances.

Universities UK, which represents 134 higher education institutions, has also raised questions about the new measures. A spokesman said: “Visa compliance is something universities take very seriously. Levels of student visa abuse in the university sector are very low.

“It is important to note that a student visa refusal does not always equate to a deliberate attempt to abuse the immigration rules. It can relate to a genuine mistake by the applicant in failing to provide the precise documentation, such as the correct bank statement, required by the Home Office.

“Using visa refusal rates as a measure to determine the future of a sponsor’s Highly Trusted Sponsor status is a blunt mechanism and could also have a disproportionate impact on smaller institutions.

“The UK's visa and immigration rules relating to international students must be proportionate and properly communicated. It is vital that the UK presents a welcoming climate for genuine international students.”