Plans to close the door on non-EU international students

The immigration minister, Damian Green, today confirmed the government’s intention to bar tens of thousands of adult overseas students coming to study “below-degree-level” courses in Britain at all but “highly trusted” colleges.

He said that the 300,000-a-year student immigration programme was “a key focus of reform” because it accounted for two-thirds of migrants who enter Britain each year.

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Source: Guardian

Twenty-one Oxbridge colleges take no black students in 2009

Twenty-one Oxbridge colleges made no offers to black candidates for undergraduate courses in 2009, with one college, Merton not accepting a single black student in five years.

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Source: Guardian

Student visa policy to be tightened

A review of student visas is to be held after the number of students coming to the UK rose by one third last year.

Home Office figures show the level of non-EU students coming to Britain increased by more than 75,000 to about 300,000 in the 12 months to March.

Immigration minister Damian Green said a “thorough evaluation” of the system would be held to try to minimise abuse.

Earlier this year the previous government introduced tougher student visa rules, following its own review.

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Asylum seekers ‘guilty until proven innocent’

BBC – In a classroom at Glasgow’s Anniesland College, a group of teenage students are working together to solve a puzzle set for them by their teacher. Read more

New Highly Trusted Sponsor Scheme for Tier 4

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UKBA changes approved English language test providers

UKBA – The UK Border Agency has withdrawn the following organisation and test from its list of approved English language test providers for Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the points-based system.

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Tougher Rules for Foreign Students

UKBA - Foreign students from outside Europe wanting to come to the UK to study will be required to meet stricter entry criteria, the Home Secretary announced today.

The new regulations will ensure that students studying below degree level have a limited ability to work in the UK, and that their dependants cannot work here at all.

It will be even harder for bogus students, whose only aim is to work in the UK, to come into the country.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson also confirmed that the government will implement plans to introduce a points test by 2011 for those who wish to earn British citizenship.

The new measures for students include:

• a good standard of English (equivalent of holding just below a GCSE in a foreign language) will be needed to come to the UK and study to improve English language competency further;
• a good standard of English (again equivalent of holding just below a GCSE in a foreign language) will need to be demonstrated in order to study any other course below degree level;
• restricting the lowest-level courses (A levels and equivalent) to only the most trusted institutions;
• halving the amount of time a student studying below first degree level or on a foundation degree course will be able to work, to just 10 hours during term time;
• a ban on bringing in dependants for anyone studying a course for less than six months; and
• a ban on dependants of anyone studying a course lower than foundation or undergraduate degree level from working – they will face removal from the UK if found doing so.

Alan Johnson said:

‘The points-based system was introduced to provide a rigorous system to manage legitimate access to the UK to work and study, with the ability to respond to changing circumstances.

‘We want foreign students to come here to study, not to work illegally, and today we have set out necessary steps which will maintain the robustness of the system we introduced last year. I make no apologies for that.’

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Home Secretary Announces Crackdown on Student Visas

The Guardian – The number of student visas could be cut by tens of thousands under new rules making it harder for people to enter the UK, the home secretary, Alan Johnson, announced today.

Those seeking to study in the country will have to speak passable English, while students enrolling on short courses are banned from bringing dependants.

The new rules, which do not require legislation, come into effect immediately. The changes follow criticism of the government’s point-based system, that was introduced last year.

Prospective students will have to speak English to a level just below GCSE standard, treating English as a foreign language, rather than the beginner level as at present. In a move designed to protect jobs for British youngsters, students taking “below degree-level” courses will only be permitted to work for 10 hours a week, instead of the current 20.

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UKBA Suspends Tier 4 Student Applications

UKBA – The UK Border Agency has announced that, from 1 February 2010, it is not accepting any new applications under the Tier 4 student route of the points-based system at the following visa application centres:

• North India – New Delhi, Jalandhar and Chandigarh
• Bangladesh – Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong
• Nepal – Kathmandu

The head of the points-based system at the UK Border Agency, Jeremy Oppenheim, said: ‘The points-based system gives us the flexibility to act to maintain the integrity of the visa system, while processing legitimate applications fairly, thoroughly and as quickly as possible.

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Changes to Student Applications from next Month

UKBA – From 22 February 2010, any migrant who applies to study in the UK under Tier 4 of the points-based system must possess a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) from their prospective sponsor.

You will not be able to apply under Tier 4 using a visa letter from that date, even if the visa letter was issued before 22 February 2010.

Until 21 February 2010, you can continue to apply under Tier 4 using a visa letter, even if your course of study will start after 22 February 2010.

For more information about applying to study under Tier 4 of the points-based system, see the Studying in the UK section of this website.

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