International students to face tougher times

As thousands of students take to the streets this week to campaign against rises in tuition fees, the rules for international students hoping to study in the UK are getting even tougher.

Anti-immigration campaigners are calling on the government to clamp down on visa rules which allow international students to enter Britain.

In an attempt to fulfill an election promise to reduce the number of immigrants entering the UK, the coalition government has introduced tough measures to address international students arriving for non-existing long term courses.

However the rules do not apply to short term student visitors of less than six months.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of the Migrationwatch UK think tank told the Daily Mail: ‘The absence of measures on student visitors is a disappointment. This route is just as likely to be abused as the longer term route. The cost of a short course in the UK is only a fraction of what a people-smuggler would charge.’

To cut the number of student visas, the government say they will let only ‘highly trusted’ colleges to offer low-level language courses.

Degree-level students will have to pass a tougher language test and those wishing to extend their visa must return home to make an application.