Date: 10th February 2010
The government has
this week announced tougher regulations for foreign students coming to study
short courses and degrees in the UK. Their aim is to target those
applicants who come into the country on temporary visas to gain an education,
only for them and their families to stay on despite their visas having expired.
Under the new
rules, applicants from outside the EU will need to speak English to near GCSE
level rather than beginner level and those enrolled on short courses (6 months
or less) will not be permitted to bring their dependants into the
country. Students enrolled on longer courses below degree level will be
able to bring dependants with them but they will not be allowed to work whilst
they are living here.
In addition the
number of hours foreign students are allowed to work is being changed.
Currently, students taking courses below degree level are allowed to work for
20 hours per week, but the new regulations will see this lowered to 10 hours
per week.
Ghuffar Usman,
immigration specialist at Cartwright King solicitors said “I believe that these
measures have not been fully considered and could end up affecting a lot of
students who legitimately come into the UK to get a quality education.
The local economy could really suffer as a result of these new
regulations. Many industry sectors rely on foreign students and their
families, especially in the catering and retail sectors. Landlords with
rented property could also really see the affect. “
Students’ entering
the UK to study at universities pay up to £20,000 per year in tuition fees and
Ghuffar believes many could be put off by these changes as they could struggle
financially. “Many students
rely on additional income to help fund their education and families, Reducing
these hours by half could persuade applicants to choose another European
country for their education instead of the UK, meaning our economy could
suffer. I would urge any student who has any concerns over their
entitlements to get professional advice.”
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