Potential Crackdown On International Students

[Kromovaracun]

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/dec/12/uk-halve-international-student-visa-tougher-rules?CMP=share_btn_fb

Given the quantity of money that international students pay into UK universities compared to domestic students, would this be a sensible idea?

[youngmafbog]

I dont see a problem with it. Genuine cases should not be affected.

[dannyk13]

Doesn't make a any sense,these students are not illegal immigrants and they pay their way.

[youngmafbog]

The problem is, some 'students' use it as a way in.

[Kromovaracun]

ymb - according to universities who oversee these cases, there are already cases where people have been denied visas for spurious reasons:

• An applicant was deemed not to be genuine because he did not know the university library opening times.

• Another was excluded for not knowing the name of the vice-chancellor at his university – a test many would-be domestic students would certainly fail.

• One applicant was refused a visa for “falling below the amount specified in a bank account by a couple of pounds on one day out of the 90-day period, even though his parents had huge funds and their accounts were also submitted”.

[Kromovaracun]

I'd venture that the problem is not sham courses or fake students - the problem is that many people on student visas quietly overstay them.

Thing is, that's already a crime. The Home Office does not need to introduce new policies to restrict that. It just needs to enforce its existing ones better.

[dannyk13]

ygb
///the problem is, some 'students' use it as a way in///
Fair enough but it looks like a target is being set to cut the number of overseas students,not weed out the suspicious ones.

[Gromit]

With the money we save from not being in the EU, the Government can afford to give the Universities £10.7billion annually. And with less foreigners about, there will be less overcrowding and less congestion. Then we can all get back to living in the 1950s like we want to :-)

[Kromovaracun]

"Naturally the Universities are moaning, specially (how shall I put it) the ones which aren't real Universities. They can see their private gold mine being closed."

Which universities, specifically, are you referring to?

I can assure you that Russell Group universities rely just as much - in fact moreso - on the hefty fees that international students pay than, say, 1994 group or lower-ranked institutions.

[Gromit]

Divebuddy,

I am under the impression that a lot has changed in the 12 years since that (old) news report. Universities are a lot more reliant on overseas students than in 2004. And tuition fees are now paid by UK students than the Government making Grants. Any funding envy in 2004 will have undoubtedly changed now.

[Kromovaracun]

Yeah, I'm really not sure what you think that article proves.