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Tighter rules for UK student visas Tighter rules for UK student visas
(40 minutes later)
By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondentBy Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent
The rules for student visas into the UK are to be much tougher - after fears that this route of entry is being used dishonestly.The rules for student visas into the UK are to be much tougher - after fears that this route of entry is being used dishonestly.
Home Secretary Theresa May said student visas were being abused and "too many were here to work and not to study".Home Secretary Theresa May said student visas were being abused and "too many were here to work and not to study".
She announced plans to cut the number of student visas by up to 80,000 - about a quarter of the current numbers.She announced plans to cut the number of student visas by up to 80,000 - about a quarter of the current numbers.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that rules must not damage an industry worth £5bn a year.Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that rules must not damage an industry worth £5bn a year.
Mrs May told the House of Commons that the misuse of student visas had become a "symbol of a broken and abused immigration system".Mrs May told the House of Commons that the misuse of student visas had become a "symbol of a broken and abused immigration system".
Language rulesLanguage rules
Tightening rules to stop false applications would be "in the best interests of legitimate students," she said.Tightening rules to stop false applications would be "in the best interests of legitimate students," she said.
The tougher rules will include a requirement for students to be able to speak English.The tougher rules will include a requirement for students to be able to speak English.
Mrs May said she wanted to end the situation where would-be students arrived at UK airports unable to even describe the courses they were about to begin.Mrs May said she wanted to end the situation where would-be students arrived at UK airports unable to even describe the courses they were about to begin.
There will also be tighter regulations on allowing the dependents of students to join them in the UK - and less flexibility in the number of years that overseas students can spend in the UK after courses are finished.There will also be tighter regulations on allowing the dependents of students to join them in the UK - and less flexibility in the number of years that overseas students can spend in the UK after courses are finished.
In response to concerns that students visas are being misused by economic migrants, there will be limits on the hours of paid work which overseas students will be allowed to carry out.In response to concerns that students visas are being misused by economic migrants, there will be limits on the hours of paid work which overseas students will be allowed to carry out.
Universities had previously expressed fears about the loss of overseas students from tighter visa rules - but Universities UK said that their concerns had been taken into account.Universities had previously expressed fears about the loss of overseas students from tighter visa rules - but Universities UK said that their concerns had been taken into account.
Many of the restrictions are targeted at students in private colleges - rather than universities.Many of the restrictions are targeted at students in private colleges - rather than universities.
Language colleges and providers of pre-university entry courses had warned of the damage to their businesses if visa rules make it difficult for legitimate students to enter the UK.Language colleges and providers of pre-university entry courses had warned of the damage to their businesses if visa rules make it difficult for legitimate students to enter the UK.
But Mrs May told MPs that such "pathway" courses into universities would be protected, if universities acted as sponsors to students.But Mrs May told MPs that such "pathway" courses into universities would be protected, if universities acted as sponsors to students.
"We will need to look closely at the finer detail, but they have listened to our concerns about pathway courses into universities and the need for the language requirement to be set at a realistic level that will not deter good students," said Edward Acton, vice-chancellor of the University of East Anglia."We will need to look closely at the finer detail, but they have listened to our concerns about pathway courses into universities and the need for the language requirement to be set at a realistic level that will not deter good students," said Edward Acton, vice-chancellor of the University of East Anglia.
Bogus collegesBogus colleges
The Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that the plan was being driven by the need to meet political promises about cutting immigration numbers, rather than to improve the visa system.The Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that the plan was being driven by the need to meet political promises about cutting immigration numbers, rather than to improve the visa system.
She said that Mrs May should act "in the interests of a sensible, controlled migration policy, rather than taking risks with an important export industry for the sake of promises she knows she can't keep".She said that Mrs May should act "in the interests of a sensible, controlled migration policy, rather than taking risks with an important export industry for the sake of promises she knows she can't keep".
The proposals from the government are the latest attempt to find a way to stop false applications without deterring legitimate students, who have become an important source of funding for UK universities and colleges.The proposals from the government are the latest attempt to find a way to stop false applications without deterring legitimate students, who have become an important source of funding for UK universities and colleges.
There has been a long-standing problem with bogus colleges, set up to get around visa rules under the pretence of offering courses.There has been a long-standing problem with bogus colleges, set up to get around visa rules under the pretence of offering courses.
Despite repeated efforts to tighten the rules, there are still concerns about the misuse of the visa system by self-regulated, private colleges.Despite repeated efforts to tighten the rules, there are still concerns about the misuse of the visa system by self-regulated, private colleges.
There have been 64 colleges which have had their right to sponsor overseas students withdrawn, since the current regulations were introduced.There have been 64 colleges which have had their right to sponsor overseas students withdrawn, since the current regulations were introduced.
Last week the Home Affairs Select Committee recommended that the government should abandon plans to raise the level of English required to gain a visa.Last week the Home Affairs Select Committee recommended that the government should abandon plans to raise the level of English required to gain a visa.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "The government's student visa plans are short-sighted and risk sending out the worrying message that the UK is closed for business."UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "The government's student visa plans are short-sighted and risk sending out the worrying message that the UK is closed for business."


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Surely the simplest way to control abuses would be to create a register of all institutions whose courses satisfy the criteria for student visas. Then require them, by law, to record the attendance of every foreign student and submit the figures monthly to the UK Border Agency. Conduct regular inspections to audit their records and check that students are attending a real course. Problem solved!
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    • i got a post grad distinction from one of the top design schools in london- i left the uk honestly before visa - not that bogus solicitors and visa agents did not suggest a hundred ways to evade the system and stay on- i know so many despots who have little intellectual worth- easily fool the home office with fake documentation- the problem is not with immigrants but with the damn business of iti got a post grad distinction from one of the top design schools in london- i left the uk honestly before visa - not that bogus solicitors and visa agents did not suggest a hundred ways to evade the system and stay on- i know so many despots who have little intellectual worth- easily fool the home office with fake documentation- the problem is not with immigrants but with the damn business of it
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    • I agree that student visa system has to be tightened but cannot agree more with popular opinions that this may deter bright students from coming to study in the UK.Home Office insisted that this will not target genuine students, but we have already been affected in a way as visas take longer to process, application fees are expensive and applications are rejected for the smallest of reasons.I agree that student visa system has to be tightened but cannot agree more with popular opinions that this may deter bright students from coming to study in the UK.Home Office insisted that this will not target genuine students, but we have already been affected in a way as visas take longer to process, application fees are expensive and applications are rejected for the smallest of reasons.
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    • This is a new level of willful stupidity, even for politicians. The solution to bogus colleges is to shut them down. I work as a lecturer in a UK university and I can tell you the people who will pay the most for this proposal is our own home students. Fees from foreign students are the only way to keep universities going in the face of the short-sighted cuts by the UK government.This is a new level of willful stupidity, even for politicians. The solution to bogus colleges is to shut them down. I work as a lecturer in a UK university and I can tell you the people who will pay the most for this proposal is our own home students. Fees from foreign students are the only way to keep universities going in the face of the short-sighted cuts by the UK government.
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    • Shortening the working hours for student visas?... My girlfriend struggles to survive on a daily basis, as she is only allowed to work up to a maximum of 10 hours per week - there's only so much her parents can do for her.If they were allowed more hours in the week similar to those who study above degree level, they might not have a problem of too many foreign students working illegally.Shortening the working hours for student visas?... My girlfriend struggles to survive on a daily basis, as she is only allowed to work up to a maximum of 10 hours per week - there's only so much her parents can do for her.If they were allowed more hours in the week similar to those who study above degree level, they might not have a problem of too many foreign students working illegally.
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  • class="dna-comment" id="comment_107498530"> class="comments_user_info secondary_body"> 2. JohnL
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    It is essential that visas do not dissuade genuine students from coming here to study. Many science and maths courses depend critically on these students to survive and without them we will not be able to offer such courses to home students. With the massive increase in student fees we are looking at wholesale closure of courses and institutions as all students go to the continent instead. Comments 5 of 6
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