Student Visas

HC 773, Seventh Report of Session 2010-11 - Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

Author:

House of Commons - Home Affairs Committee

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

Price: £22.00

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'Student Visas (HC 773)' is a report from the Home Affairs Select Committee cautioning the Government against introducing measures which could damage the UK's thriving educational export sector.

The Committee remains concerned that a number of the Government proposals could have serious unintended consequences. International students make up 10% of first degree students and over 40% of postgraduate students at UK universities.

The international student market, estimated to be worth £40 billion to the UK economy is a significant growth market and the UK is the second most popular destination in the world for international students.

The Committee finds that:

• The Post-Study Work route is important in attracting students to the UK and disagrees with the Government proposal to close it.

• There should be an alternative to the Government's proposals on language requirements, specifically a permanent change to the parameters of the student visitor visa so that it can be used as a viable route for all of those attending pre-degree programmes.

• The Government's proposals to tighten the accreditation of language schools is admirable, but the Committee is concerned that Government approval of the current accreditation bodies has lapsed.

• A single streamlined accreditation system should be implemented and any cap on student visas is unnecessary and undesirable.

• Progress has been made on closing down bogus language schools. The Committee supports the Government's intention to crack down on bogus colleges and bogus students but it is not persuaded that students are migrants, as defined by the UN and suggests that students ought to be excluded from net migration numbers.

• The data used in assessing migration figures are not fit for purpose and could inhibit effective policy making.

Extent	197 pages	ISBN	9780215557124
Size	A4	Price	£22.00
Format	Paperback	Published	25 Mar 2011
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges