The measures, which have come after a public consultation and have attracted much controversy, include tighter restrictions on working after study, raised English language requirements and tighter accreditation procedures.

Home secretary Theresa May said that her aim was not to stop genuine students, but that the UK wanted to attract ‘the best’ and the measures would “eliminate abuse within the system”. The new measures are expected to result in 80, 000 fewer visas each year – a quarter of the current total.

Here is an overview of the measures:

• Tighter accreditation and inspection regimes
• Less students will be able to bring dependants with them
• For non-EU students, the right to work after graduating will only be given those who have job offers with trusted employers, with a salary of at least £20, 000
• The standard of English required to study a degree course will rise

The measures have prompted fears by university groups that international students will be deterred from coming to the UK – resulting in a huge financial loss for many institutions that rely on international fees. There is also a worry that it will adversely affect smaller schools such as English language providers.

Are you an international student? Would these measures put you off coming to the UK? We want to know your thoughts!

The proposals outline stricter guidelines for non-EEA (European Economic Area) student visas in order to limit the abuse of the system by immigrants who are using the study route for economic reasons. Home Secretary Theresa May says in the proposals that they want “a student visa system that encourages the entry of genuine students” but that she was concerned that “the UK is attracting students who aren’t always the brightest or the best”. She said that it must be made clear that the student route is a temporary one, and that the government wants to ensure it is not being abused by those who just wish to settle and live in the UK.

This will be done in a number of ways:

Higher level of courses

The proposals suggest raising the level of courses that students can study. Currently, international students must undertake a course within the Tier 4 route; education institutes must be registered in the programme and offer courses leading to qualifications at the minimum level of NQF level 3 or SCQF level 6. Now, they propose to change this so that Tier 4 sponsors can only offer courses to international students at degree level (NQF level 6 and SCQF level 9). Only Highly Trusted sponsors will be allowed to offer courses below this level.

Tougher language requirements

The government also propose to implement tougher English language entry requirements, so that all students using the Tier 4 route must pass a secure English language test at the level B2, rather than the current level of B1, in all four testing areas (reading, writing, speaking and listening). This brings the UK requirements broadly in line with countries such as the USA and Australia.

Limiting entitlements to work

Students can currently work for up to twenty hours a week during term time and full-time during vacations. The government plan to change this so that students can only work on-campus during the week, but can work as much as they like off-campus on the weekends and on vacations. They also plan to change the ratio of study-work in vocational courses so that it is 66/33 rather than the current 50/50.

There will also be measures to limit the entitlements of dependants and measures to ensure students return to their home countries after study; a recent Home Office report shows that more than a fifth of those granted student visas in 2004 were still in the country in 2004. This prompts fears that immigrants are using the study route in order to come to live and work permanently in the UK.

However, the measures will help those deemed as ‘low risk’ to the UK, as the proposals suggest a simpler procedure for checking the financial evidence of some students so that they can ‘self-declare’ their ability to fund their study.

Dominic Scott, chief executive of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), has said that the changes would reduce the number of students coming to the UK, whilst tackling abuse of the system.

These new proposals may not be good news for the thousands of non-EEA students who come to study in the UK each year, nor the universities who need their tuition fees. However, perhaps it will help those students who are genuinely wanting to study in the UK and will encourage the “best and brightest” to apply.

You can view the full proposals here.

Are you an international student looking to study in the UK? Do you think these new measures will discourage you? Let us know what you think about this story.

Blunders by the UK Border Agency, which could cost thousands of Pakistani students their places at UK universities, have outraged Pakistani officials with students complaining of excessive delays in their applications and unfair refusals.

Critics of the UK Border Agency have been quick to point out that the visa problems began soon after the Agency moved their Pakistan operations to Abu Dhabi.

Despite the UK Border Agency employing an extra 100 staff members; a total of 140,000 students have so far experienced problems with their visa applications whilst many have missed their start date of courses.

Reports in the Dawn newspaper yesterday revealed that an estimated 20,000 student passports were piled in the UK Border Agency offices whilst applications pended. UK authorities state that student passports must be retained by the UK Border Agency for the duration of the visa processing time.

One angry student commented, “It’s ridiculous not knowing where your most important document is.”