IPPR Says Genuine Students will be turned away under Tier 4 changes

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has said that changes to the Tier 4 visa rules will “significantly reduce the number of legitimate international students” coming to the UK and this will “cause real damage to the education sector and the wider British economy” as a whole.

The Associate Director for Migration, Trade and Development at the IPPR, Sarah Mulley, said that “In the run-up to the announcement of severe cuts in international student numbers, the government has made much of abuse of the student visa system. It is absolutely right to clamp down this – everybody agrees with that. But emphasising this issue now is something of a smokescreen because the best evidence suggests that the vast majority of international students come here legitimately and most stay for only a short time. The government will not reduce immigration in a big way by tackling student visa cheats. To meet their election pledge, they will have to significantly reduce the number of legitimate international students, and their proposals would do just that. This will cause real damage to the education sector, and the wider British economy, all in pursuit of an artificial migration target.”

Effects of the Tier 4 (Student) Visa Proposals

If all of the proposed changes are introduced the effects on the higher education system in the United Kingdom will be significant. At the moment:

• Around two thirds (182,000) of the 273,000 student visas issued in 2009 were from applicants based outside of the European Union
• International Students pay far higher University fees, often more than twice as much as students from the United Kingdom and those from countries within the European Union
• In 2006 – 2007 six percent (6%) of students studying in Scotland were from countries outside of the European Union and the following year 2007 – 2008 the total income from International students to the 20 Scottish Universities was £188 million
• Many Universities argue that International degree students are recruited from non-degree courses on which they have improved there English language ability. It is estimated that Universities in the UK recruit more than 50% of their International students from such courses
• The 5,475 extra places awarded at UK Universities in 2010 was made up of one third (1/3) students from within the European Union and two thirds (2/3) those from countries outside of the EU. The number of British students fell during 2010 by just over 400
• In 2010 Scottish Universities accepted 2,208 non-EU applicants

Commonwealth Contractors

Commonwealth Contractors is a collection of highly skilled professionals from the Commonwealth and beyond. We partner with OISC Registered Immigration Partners capable of professionally representing a Tier 1 Visa Application / Extension and Tier 2 Licensed Consultancy & Associated Trust Partners who may be prepared, where required, to sponsor a doctor on a Tier 2 Visa (formerly UK Work Permit).

To find out more call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0330 390 9021 or Submit your Details and we will get back to you. Please be prepared to send a copy of a recent CV so that we can pass to interested partners.