Now that the cap on employment-based UK visas is out of the way, the Government is planning to turn its attentions to UK student visa levels.
Speculation suggests a 40 per cent cut could be on the cards. This will be achieved with strict new eligibility criteria making it far more difficult for student visas to be obtained.
The government is still hell-bent on its target of reducing net migration from 196,000 last year to “tens of thousands”, so student and family visas are expected to take the biggest hit in the coming months.
Part of the UK immigration cap was announced on Tuesday, restricting working visas and trimming at least 6,000 immigrants from 2009 levels.
This leaves at least another 90,000 immigrants to be cut before we reach a level which could be loosely defined as “tens of thousands”.
That’s where the student visas come in.
300,000 foreign students enter the UK each year, accounting for two thirds of total immigration to Britain.
Of those, approximately 40 per cent are enrolled in courses below degree level.
Yesterday Home Secretary Theresa May hinted that eligibility criteria may be altered to exclude all courses below degree level. This would reduce foreign student numbers by 120,000 per year.
“A recent check of students studying at private institutions below degree level showed that a quarter could not be accounted for. Too many students at these lower levels have been coming here with a view to living and working, rather than studying. We need to stop this abuse,” she said.
So now it’s a question of whether the government will target ALL students in courses below degree level, or just that “quarter” of students who couldn’t be accounted for.
Either way we’re looking at a reduction of between 30,000 and 120,000.
There are also plans to end the “post-study route” allowing students to work in the UK once they finish their studies. Last year 38,000 UK visa applications were approved via this route.
But will a drastic reduction in student visas really be the answer?
The statistics clearly show that a majority of students complete their studies and go home. And it’s common knowledge that foreign students are an asset to the British economy and education system.
So let’s just hope that the government stays focused on sensible reform, rather than blindly chasing their bold target.
