Stricter UK Immigration Laws are Damaging UK Universities Argue Critics

(prHWY.com) February 15, 2012 - Birmingham, United Kingdom -- During a debate held in the House of Lords, she stated: "the UK risked putting itself in a 'very unfortunate position' when it came to attracting overseas students." Her claims relate in particular to Indian students, where she identified that the UK was missing out on 'huge potential' in terms of talent and that Universities were losing seriously needed funding from foreign students.

She added that: "Some bona fide institutions - Universities - have lost as many as 20% of their overseas students, particularly from India. The restrictions on employment when graduating will put us in a very unfortunate position compared to our main competitors the United States and Australia, which have much more generous arrangements for students who wish to work for a temporary period when they graduate."

In agreement with Blackstone was Labour's Viscount Hansworth, who is a professor at Leicester University. He stated: "it's completely unacceptable to treat students along with other immigrants."

He added: "Policies designed to combat illegitimate institutions are also having a negative effect on reputable institutions in the higher education sector. Under normal circumstances, without the barriers created by the government, their numbers would be expected to follow an upwardly mobile trend, which would be highly profitable for the UK."

In response to the critics however, the UK Home Office Minister, Lord Henley argued that latest statistics reveal a 13% rise in the number of University applications from students outside of the European Union. Yet, Henley did concede that there had indeed been a decrease in the number of applicants from India and an increase from nations such as Australia and New Zealand.

Henley concluded by saying that: "It might be that there are some particular institutions that have lost out, but we have seen proportionate increases elsewhere, including Australasia where there has been an increase of some 20% and Hong Kong 37%."

UK Visa Immigration
Hagley Road (Head Office)
Newland House, 4th Floor,
137-139 Hagley Road,
Birmingham B16 8UA

###