UK Government outlines major major overhaul of student visas

Tougher entrance criteria, limits on work entitlements and the closure of the post-study work route are some of the changes made to the student visa system in the United Kingdom, home secretary Theresa May has said. The announcement on Wednesday follows a major public consultation on the reform of Tier Four, which is the student entry route to the UK of the points based system, after a home office review revealed widespread abuse.

A sample of students studying at private institutions showed that 26 per cent of them could not be accounted for. May said, "International students not only make a vital contribution to the UK economy but they also help make our education system one of the best in the world.

"But it has become very apparent that the old student visa regime failed to control immigration and failed to protect legitimate students from poor quality colleges. The changes I am announcing today re-focus the student route as a temporary one, available to only the brightest and best. The new system is designed to ensure students come for a limited period, to study not work, and make a positive contribution while they are here," she said.

Introducing a number of tightening measures, the government also pledged to develop a new entrepreneur route for bright and innovative students who have a business idea and want to make it work in Britain.

The other main changes are, that from April 2012, all institutions wanting to sponsor students will have to be classed as highly trusted sponsors and become accredited by statutory education inspection bodies by the end of 2012.  The current system does not require this and allowed too many poor quality colleges into the system.

"Those coming to study at degree level will have to speak English at an upper intermediate (B2) level. This is higher that the current B1 requirement," she said. 

"The UK Border Agency staff will be able to refuse entry to students who cannot speak English without an interpreter, and who therefore patently do not meet the required minimum standards. Only postgraduate students at universities and government sponsored students will be allowed to bring their dependants," she said.

"We will limit the overall time that can be spent on a student visa to three years at lower levels, for now, and five years at higher levels," the rules said.

Theresa May added, "My aim is not to stop genuine students coming here - it is to eliminate abuse within the system. Our stricter accreditation process will see only first class education providers given licences to sponsor students."

"I am delighted to announce that alongside our stricter rules, we will ensure that innovative student entrepreneurs who are creating wealth are able to stay in the UK to pursue their ideas."

The government has committed to reforming all routes of entry to the UK in order to bring immigration levels under control.The student changes will work alongside the annual limit on economic migration, and reforms to family and settlement routes planned for later this year.