The government is consulting on plans to reduce student visas for those studying below degree level and to raise English language requirements. It says the system is abused and net migration needs to be reduced. It has pledged to reduce net migration from its current 215,000 to less than 100,000 by 2015.
But universities argue on the grounds that international students provide about 9% of the sector's income. A study for the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) advices the decision would slash the number of foreign students coming to UK universities which would result in a loss of billions of pounds in income.
The president of the National Union of Students, Aaron Porter raised concerns about the effect of the decision on some institutions like the London School of Economics, in which 70% of students are from an international background.
A Home Office analysis found that 20% of people who were granted student visas in 2004 were still in the UK in 2009. Immigration Minister Damian Green stated that "Too many individuals applying to study at below degree level have been coming here to live and work instead. We need to stop this abuse."
Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12296161
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