Staying after studies

While many students pursue their education overseas for its quality, some see a student visa as an easy ‘guarantee’ for permanent residency.

By TAN EE LOO

Informative article to read, click here for more

New Policy Update - Student Visa Process, Next set of changes from 4th July 2011.

The next set of changes to the Immigration Rules affecting Tier 4 - the student tier - of the points-based system has been laid in Parliament today. The changes will come into effect on 4 July 2011.

The aim of the revised Immigration Rules is to deliver a strong migration system which tackles immigration abuse, while allowing genuine students to study at genuine colleges.


From 4 July UKBA will:

• Restrict work entitlements to migrants studying at higher educational institutions (HEIs) and publicly funded further education colleges only;
• Restrict the sponsorship of dependants to those studying at postgraduate level at HEIs on courses lasting at least 12 months, and government-sponsored students on courses lasting at least 6 months;
• Require education providers to vouch that a new course represents genuine academic progression;
• Ensure that maintenance funds are genuinely available to the applicant, by introducing a declaration on the visa application form;
• Commit to publish a list of financial institutions, on the basis of experience, which do not verify financial statements in more than 50 per cent of a sample of cases;
• Introduce a streamlined application process for low-risk nationals applying to attend courses with Highly Trusted Sponsors;
• Extend the list of courses for which students must receive ATAS clearance;
• Restrict the ability to deliver accountancy courses accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to those sponsors accorded platinum or gold status by ACCA; and
• Clarify the position of overseas universities with campuses in the UK.

Click here for more...

New Policy Update –Final Draft Policy, Tighter Regulations for UK student visa

The much awaited and long anticipated changes in the Student Visa Policy was announced yesterday by the Home Secretary Theresa May, who said student visas were being abused and "too many were here to work and not to study"

According to UKBA, New Student Visa Policy in Summary, To be in effect from the First Week of April , 2011,The main changes are as follows:

§ From April 2012, any institution wanting to sponsor students will need to be classed as a Highly Trusted sponsor, and will need to become accredited by a statutory education inspection body by the end of 2012. The current system does not require this, and has allowed too many poor-quality colleges to become sponsors.

§ Students coming to study at degree level will need to speak English at an 'upper intermediate' (B2) level, rather than the current 'lower intermediate' (B1) requirement.

§ UK Border Agency staff will be able to refuse entry to students who cannot speak English without an interpreter, and who therefore clearly do not meet the minimum standard.

§ Students at universities and publicly funded further education colleges will retain their current work rights, but all other students will have no right to work. We will place restrictions on work placements in courses outside universities.

§ Only postgraduate students at universities and government-sponsored students will be able to bring their dependants. At the moment, all students on longer courses can bring their dependants.

§ We will limit the overall time that can be spent on a student visa to 3 years at lower levels (as it is now) and 5 years at higher levels. At present, there is no time limit for study at or above degree level.

§ We will close the Tier 1 (Post-study work) route, which allows students 2 years to seek employment after their course ends. Only graduates who have an offer of a skilled job from a sponsoring employer under Tier 2 of the points-based system will be able to stay to work.

You can read New Student Visa Policy Summary in detail here or download

In my opinion the privately funded education industry in Britain is being marginalized and heavily regulated, with NO level playing ground ever offered on par with state funded Universities and publicly funded FE Colleges,

Rushdy Razak

New Policy Update – Student Visa Process

Tougher rules for non-EU students, New Student Visa Policy Updates and PSW Closure…
The official consultation period on the student visa route closed by 31st Jan, 2011.

Yesterday, Damian Green, the Immigration minister, said "It seems to me that to allow unfettered access to the jobs market for two years to anyone with a student visa from abroad is putting an unnecessary extra strain on our own graduates," – This implies limiting post-study work at a time when graduate unemployment is at its peak for 17 years.

According to the Yesterday’s Interview with BBC Immigration Minister Damian Green has announced a review of every route used to gain the right to live and work indefinitely in the UK. access the Interview Video with BBC here

In a speech for a Think Tank Organization, yesterday, He was targeting the private FE sector offering below degree level courses, in which 613 private colleges were rated less than "highly trusted" by the UK Border Agency. The sector brought in 91,000 students last year, he said.
He cited cases including that of a college that had two lecturers for 940 students, amid all this railway time-table announcements of new student policy updates, many UK Colleges wary on new Visa Rules, Click Here to read the FT Analysis

As the official consultation ended up on newly announced student visa policy Expect further detailed procedures and guidelines in the coming days; it is to be finally announced means It is to be implemented by first week of April, 2011

We also expect, not wish - Revamp of settlement rights which means thousands of migrants are to lose the right to live in the UK permanently


Rushdy Razak

UK Immigration and Nationality Policy Handbook Volume 1 Strategic Information and Basic Regulations

Uwic course cutbacks confirmed amid shake-up

BBC Reports that Courses, staff and students are to be reduced at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, (Uwic) as higher education funding cuts and changes take effect, according to BBC wales Education Minister Leighton Andrews, has repeatedly called for mergers between universities and in December the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales published proposals to reduce the number of universities in Wales from 10 to six, with just two universities in south east Wales.

Funding Cuts, Developing Story
Currently, universities and directly funded FE colleges receive HEFCE cash to pay for teacher training courses. Full-time students have access to bursaries, which cover the cost of fees and some living expenses, while part-time students’ employers have access to grants to cover their fees. according to Denise Robinson, director of the Consortium for Post-Compulsory Education and Training, said part-time students receiving “in-service” training - the route favoured by around 90 per cent of FE teachers - might have to pay as much as £8,000 for a two-year course when the changes come into effect in 2012/13 - more than five times the current fee of £1,500

Courtesy: BBC Wales, Times Higher Education/TES, More about Post Compulsory Education & Training Network