UK immigration crackdown damaging to universities

United Kingdom, 30th May: Recent immigration crackdown by the Coalition government will render a big blow to UK universities, warn several UK universities.

Foreign students wanting to come and study in the UK will be deterred from doing so, say the heads of UK universities.

Tough UK student visa rules- a big loss to the universities--New UK student visa rules will not help international students to come and study here. In such a case, international students will have no other option but to seek admission in educational institutes in other nations overseas.

Higher education in the UK will suffer losses worth millions in terms of annual fees from international students unless the UK government bothers to change tougher immigration rules for overseas students, the warning by senior education personalities states.

Significant contribution of overseas students to UK--Each year, around £8bn is received by the UK universities in terms of tuition fees from foreign students coming to study in the UK, the letter states.

The UK attracts nearly 10 percent of foreign students studying abroad. There is a potential for an increase in the contributions by foreign students to £17bn by the year 2025, says president of Universities UK, Professor Eric Thomas. And contributions of foreign students in the UK will also create thousands of new jobs here, adds Thomas.

But, if rules are not changed, it will not just be a loss to the UK but a gain of other nations like Canada, Australia, the US and Germany.

That’s because it will boost best foreign talent in other nations, allege the universities in the UK.

Relax UK student visa norms to boost university revenue--No wonder, heads of UK universities are asking the UK government, in a letter addressed to UK PM David Cameron, to remove foreign students enrolling in UK universities from net UK migration limits. Only such a step will ensure development of UK economy but also give a much needed fillip to income of UK universities.

There is no logic in targeting international students in the annual UK immigration limits just for the sake of bringing down UK immigration levels, the letter affirms.

It has signatures of 68 university presidents, chancellors and governors including representatives of renowned universities like LSE(London School of Economics), Russell Group institutions and University College London.