Tougher British entry rule for foreign students

Saturday March 26, 2011

Art. from : The star

KUALA LUMPUR: Britain has announced tougher entrance criteria for foreign students from next year, with work entitlements affected and the post-study work route scrapped.

The British High Commission, in an immediate reaction here, assured that Malaysian students would be spared the brunt of the stricter student visa regime as they were of “high quality and value.”

The changes, effective April next year, follows a major public consultation exercise on reforming the Tier 4 (students) points-based visa system after a Home Office review revealed widespread abuse.

The recently-concluded exercise sought views on a wide range of measures to limit foreign student intake, reduce net migration and prevent abuse by foreign students, with about 30,000 proposals received over eight weeks.

The overall period of a student visa is to be limited to three years at lower levels and five years at higher levels. There is no time limit for study at or above degree level.

The Tier 1 (post-study work) route, which allows students two years to seek employment after their course ends, will be scrapped.

Only international graduates with an offer of a skilled job from a sponsoring employer under Tier 2 (skilled workers) will be able to stay to work.

The other main changes announced by British Home Secretary Theresa May in London were:

> From April 2012, all British institutions wanting to be sponsors will have to be Highly Trusted Sponsors and become accredited by statutory education inspection bodies by end 2012;

> Those coming to study at degree level will have to speak English at an upper intermediate (B2) level;

> Students at universities and publicly funded further education colleges will retain current work rights while studying but all other students will have no right to work;

> Only post-graduate students at universities and government-sponsored students will be allowed to bring dependants (presently all students on longer courses can bring dependants).

British High Commissioner Simon Featherstone told The Star that there would be “little substantive change” as far as Malaysian students were concerned due to their standing.

“These changes seek to drive visa abuse from the system to ensure that they (Malaysian students) continue to receive the very best in British education and that we continue to attract the brightest and best,” he added.

About 6,000 Malaysian students leave each year to study in Britain, which remains the top study destination for Malaysians.

For more details of the changes, visit ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk