Student visa rule changes come into force 4 July

The UK Border Agency has published the latest set of changes to the Immigration Rules, affecting Tier 4 students, which were laid in Parliament this week.

The new restrictions, which will mainly hit private colleges, will come into effect on 4 July 2011.

The Home Secretary announced changes to the Immigration Rules in a statement to Parliament on 22 March, which follow the first set of changes on 21 April.

The border agency (UKBA) said that 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 the UK Border Agency 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 that we consider, on the basis of experience, do not verify financial statements to our satisfaction 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.

A revised version of our policy guidance document for Tier 4 migrants, and a statement of intent summarising the new student visa policy, can also be downloaded from UKBA website. You can find the revised guidance for Tier 4 sponsors in the Sponsor guidance section of the UKBA website.

The UKBA also announced that the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) will extend their activities to cover privately funded providers, in line with their commitment that all privately funded sponsors would be inspected or reviewed by one of the publicly recognised bodies by the end of 2012. Source: UK Border Agency.

The changes will be seen as a major blow for private colleges, already competing against government owned providers at a disadvantage.

According to Home Office figures published by the BBC yesterday the student visa changes could cost the UK economy £2.4bn.

The changes will not affect Bulgarian and Romanian students who wish to come to the UK to study and work on a Yellow Card.

See also:

Student Visa crackdown could cost UK £2.4bn say Home Office

Top British academics launch £18,000pa private college in London

Why do international students choose to study in the UK?

Free service launched to help overseas students study at UK Universities

New Tier 4 Student Visa rules implemented 21 April 2011, but will students applying to private colleges be allowed to work?

Student visas can be cancelled if a student changes college without permission

International student numbers soar as UK remains an attractive place to study

Looking for a college or University?

UKUS is a free University and College Admissions and advice service based in London, UK. Students interested in studying abroad can complete the Online UKUS Registration Form for more details.

UK University Services: Student visas can be cancelled if you change colle...

UK University Services: Student visas can be cancelled if you change colle...: "As thousands of international students move from college to college, care needs to be taken to ensure you stay on the right side of the law...."

Prof AC Grayling in student smoke bomb protest in debate on private university

The renowned philosopher, 62, was shouted down by more than a dozen protesters - angry at his plans to open a new private college - during the debate about cuts to the arts at Foyles bookshop in central London.

At the end of the heated hour-long debate, during which Prof Grayling was verbally abused by students protesting against his plans, protesters set off the device.

Prof Grayling and the three other speakers were quickly ushered from the room, and into the back of the shop, as it filled with pungent red smoke just before 8pm.

Organisers were forced to evacuate about 100 people amid fears for the safety of the crowd just moments after the philosopher said he would talk to the protesters.

Prof Grayling had told the crowd he was willing to continue discussing his proposals, but that plan was abandoned by organisers after the smoke bomb attack.

It remains unclear who the protestors were, but many appeared to be students, angry about the decision to charge more than double the maximum tuition fees for courses.

Despite knowing about planned protests, organisers insisted on continuing the debate because they wanted a “free exchange of ideas”.

Prof Grayling, who will become the president of the New College of the Humanities (NCH) which will charge students fees of £18,000 each year, was heckled as he tried to talk about cuts to the arts.

The debate was his first public appearance since details of the institution were disclosed at the weekend.

The other speakers were Mick Gordon, an Irish theatre director, and Christopher Frayling, the former Arts Council chairman while the chair Al Senter, an arts journalist, struggled to control the crowd.

On several occasions, Prof Grayling was shouted down during the debate as he sought to defend the new institution.

As soon as joined in the discussion, someone from the crowd shouted: “You have no right to speak”.

Prof Grayling, who will be the college’s first Master, appeared taken aback by the protests although he insisted he “didn’t expect to change minds”.

Protesters started shouting at Prof Grayling: “AC Grayling get out, job cuts, money for the bosses.”

The debate was his first public appearance since details of the institution were disclosed at the weekend. Many protesters appeared to be students angry about the decision to charge more than double the maximum tuition fees for course.

As soon as the philosopher joined in the discussion, someone from the crowd shouted: “You have no right to speak”.

One protester said: “You should be defending public education, not deserting it.” Another shouted: “He may be a public intellect, but he is blinkered.”

Prof Grayling, who will be the college’s first Master, appeared to be taken aback by the protests.

He said: “We are in danger of losing sight of the importance to society of a higher education in the humanities.”

He later told reporters: “It is always upsetting of being the targets of attacks.

“Of course I am disasapointed to that we did not have an opportunity to debate the topic of the evening which was about cuts to the arts.

“And I would have been really happy to talk to the students afterwards as I offered to stay on afterwards. And talk to them and then the smoke bomb was set off and that ended the conversation.”

He added: “I didn’t expect to change minds there because I understand the real anxiety that people feel in higher education.

“I share with them the belief that we should as a society, we should invest in education at every level and invest properly.”

Sion Hamilton, the store's manager, said: "We were aware of the proposed protest today, but chose not cancel the event because Foyles bookshop is a space for the free exchange of ideas and intelligent debate.

"Professor Grayling offered to answer students' questions for 20 minutes after the scheduled event, we regret that one individual decided to curtail this opportunity for further discussion by letting off a smoke bomb at the end. We evacuated the room swiftly and safetly."

The institution in London has received funds of up to £10 million from City financiers and its 14 professors. It is inviting applications from students for 2012.

Fees are twice as high as the maximum that can be charged by state-funded institutions. Its backers, several of whom are shareholders, insist this would allow them to offer the “highest quality” education. Source: The Telegraph

Predictably, the plans to open up the UK higher education market to high quality private competion have been criticised by academics as being ‘elitist’.

See also:

Top British academics launch £18,000pa private college in London

Why do international students choose to study in the UK?

Free service launched to help overseas students study at UK Universities

New Tier 4 Student Visa rules implemented 21 April 2011, but will students applying to private colleges be allowed to work?

Student visas can be cancelled if a student changes college without permission

International student numbers soar as UK remains an attractive place to study

If you need any immigration advice or are worried about the new immigration rules or need help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit http://www.immigrationmatters.co.uk/

Looking for a College or University?

Thousands of students are worried about the forthcoming Tier 4 visa changes next month on working rules for students at private colleges. Many are switching now to secure their ‘20 hours work’ per week rights.

Need student advice?

UKUS is a free University and College Admissions and advice service based in London, UK. Students interested in studying abroad can complete the Online UKUS Registration Form for more details.

British academics launch £18,000pa private college in London

A new British college aiming to rival Oxford and Cambridge has been launched by leading academics, the BBC reports.

New College of the Humanities will give a high-quality education to "gifted" undergraduates and a degree from the University of London, creators say.

The privately-owned London-based college will open in September 2012 and is planning to charge fees of £18,000.

The 14 professors involved include biologist Richard Dawkins and historian Sir David Cannadine.

Professor Dawkins is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford, as well as being the author of The God Delusion, and Sir David is a professor at Princeton University in the United States.

Based in Bloomsbury, central London, the new college will offer eight undergraduate humanities degrees taught by some of the world's most prominent intellectuals, officials said.

Degrees cover five subject areas - law, economics, history, English literature and philosophy.

Students will also take three "intellectual skills" modules in science literacy, logic and critical thinking and applied ethics - which will result in them being awarded a Diploma of New College in addition to a University of London degree, making a combined award of BA Hons (London) DNC.

'New model'

Professor AC Grayling, the philosopher who will be the college's first Master, secured millions of pounds of funding from investors to set up the institution.

He said: "Our priorities at the college will be excellent teaching quality, excellent ratios of teachers to students, and a strongly supportive and responsive learning environment.

"Our students will be challenged to develop as skilled, informed and reflective thinkers, and will receive an education to match that aspiration."

Prof Grayling is a professor of philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London, and a fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford.

The college claims to offer a "new model of higher education for the humanities in the UK".

Students can apply immediately and assisted places will be offered to 20% of the first year's intake.

Applicants need to meet the University of London minimum entrance requirements and be fully competent in English.

The college said its selection process will not be computerised, with each application considered "individually, personally and on its merits".

It also has scholarships and "exhibition schemes" to "ensure that finance should not be a barrier to any talented UK student".

The government has set fees in England's public universities at a maximum of £9,000 from September next year. Source: BBC

The market for high quality private education, to rival government funded colleges and universities, is opening up.

With fees for local students going through the roof, some will choose lower cost private colleges to obtain their degrees and many may go to other EU countries where fees are lower.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 this morning, Professor Grayling said the University College would offer far more than a normal humanities Degree and said that the higher fees reflected the ‘true cost’ of quality higher education.

Baroness Blackstone accused the college of only catering for the elite British and wealthy foreign students.

See also:

Why do international students choose to study in the UK?

Free service launched to help overseas students study at UK Universities

New Tier 4 Student Visa rules implemented 21 April 2011, but will students applying to private colleges be allowed to work?

Student visas can be cancelled if a student changes college without permission

International student numbers soar as UK remains an attractive place to study

If you need any immigration advice or are worried about the new immigration rules or need help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit http://www.immigrationmatters.co.uk/

Looking for a College or University?

Thousands of students are worried about the forthcoming Tier 4 visa changes next month on working rules for students at private colleges. Many are switching now to secure their ‘20 hours work’ per week rights.

Need advice?

UKUS is a free University and College Admissions and advice service based in London, UK. Students interested in studying abroad can complete the Online UKUS Registration Form for more details.