UK private colleges bear the brunt of anti-immigration

United Kingdom, 13th March: UK’s plans to introduce significant reduction in the number of non-EU migrants to be allowed into the UK have jeopardized private colleges of the UK.

UK makes education unaffordable for overseas students--Geoffrey Alderman stated that the higher education sector of the UK is already going through a rough phase following the government’s decision to increase fees for foreign students at private colleges along with axing the right to work part-time.

And any new plans to limit the number of overseas students at UK’s private colleges and universities will have a damaging effect on the UK education sector.

Tougher norms for overseas students--It has been almost a year since the UK government had tightened rules for overseas students seeking higher education in the UK.

The UK Home Secretary Theresa May wanted to cut down the immigration levels in the nation and the international students appeared to be the easiest target.

Hence, a decision was made to limit the annual intake of recruitment of foreign students at private educational institutes in the UK. And this certainly smacks of racial discrimination against overseas students hailing from non-EU nations.

Although, the UK had been unsuccessful in its aim to limit the number of private colleges in the nation, but it was successful in limiting the number of overseas student enrolments in such colleges by making the higher education in the UK almost unaffordable for foreigners.

The UK government has already increased the cost of UK student visas along with the requirement of spoken English for studying in the UK.

UK student visa route open to misuse-Meanwhile, according to chairman of Migration Watch UK, Sir Andrew Green, the UK student visa route is subject to misuse and hence is in dire need for immediate reforms.

The government of the UK must keep a track on migrants especially from Africa and Asia who are abusing the process of UK student visas to stay in the UK permanently, Sir Green affirmed.

Only then can the UK can keep its education sector globally competitive while keeping the nation open to the best and genuine applicants.

As per new rules for UK student visas, overseas students will be banned from staying in the UK after completion of their graduation unless they possess a skilled job offer. And the stay for foreigners enrolled in English language courses will be allowed to stay in the UK for a period of 11 months.