Universities UK welcomed today a number of changes to the new immigration system that better recognise the competitive environment in which universities are working to attract highly talented students to the UK.
Following discussions between Universities UK, the Home Office and the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills (DIUS), it was announced today that visas will now be granted to students for the entire length of their programme. Required maintenance levels have also been adjusted to more realistic levels and students will be able to continue to undertake work placements as part of their studies.
Professor Paul Wellings, Chair of Universities UK’s International Policy Committee and Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, said: “This is positive news. We are pleased that the Immigration Minister has looked at the issues Universities UK had raised with the Home Office.
“Universities will be the largest volume users of the new system with significant numbers of international students, staff and researchers coming to UK universities.
“International activities of UK universities contribute around £5 billion to the economy each year and this success depends on mobility.”
The Home Office has now published guidance for applicants and education institutions that will be using the student route within the new points-based immigration system.
However, Professor Wellings added that that the guidance has been published very late in the process as the new system for students will start around the world on 31 March.
Professor Wellings said: “There is very little time for prospective and current students to understand the changes and the implications for them. Universities are large and complex organisations and three weeks is not sufficient time to enable them to understand and adjust policies and processes and even less time to advise new and current students. It is particularly difficult as these changes will come in halfway through an applications cycle.
“We are concerned that there has been very limited work overseas to inform prospective students, their advisers, overseas governments and funding bodies about the changes. We urge the Government to focus resources on communications overseas over the coming months to ensure prospective students are briefed about the system and understand the new process. We also hope the Home Office will implement the new arrangements pragmatically as it will be a period of adjustment for students, institutions and the Home Office itself.”
ENDS
Notes
- Professor Paul Wellings, representing Universities UK, gave evidence on the Points-Based Immigration System to the Home Affairs Select Committee last Tuesday, 3 March.
- For further information on the new guidance for students applying from 31 March 2009 under tier 4 of the points-based system, visit: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/tier4
- Universities UK is the major representative body and membership organisation for the higher education sector. It represents the UK's universities and some higher education colleges. Its 133 members http://www.UniversitiesUK.ac.uk/members/ are the executive heads of these institutions. Universities UK works closely with policy makers and key education stakeholders to advance the interests of universities and to spread good practice throughout the higher education sector. Founded in 1918 and formerly known as the Committee for Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP), Universities UK celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2008.