Changes to Student Visas
On the 30th July 2008, the Government announced continued changes to the Immigration rules relating to foreign nationals entering the UK. On this occasion the new changes related to students entering the UK.
On the 30th July 2008, the Government announced continued changes to the Immigration rules relating to foreign nationals entering the UK. On this occasion the new changes related to students entering the UK.
The government has announced new stricter rules in allowing students to come to UK to study at our universities and colleges. Students will no longer just have to show that that can meet the cost of their course fees, maintenance and accommodation but they will have to show that if they are doing a course for longer than 12 months they can cover the first year of their course and £9,600 to cover the first year in the UK. For those students wishing to bring their dependents, such as spouses and children they will have to show in addition they have £535 per month per person.
Additionally Tier 4 of the Points Based System opens 2nd February 2009. All education providers wishing to bring students to the UK to study will need to be a licensed sponsor to do so. Education providers will also have stricter legal responsibilities for these students such as informing the UK Border Agency if they fail to enrol for their course.
At the moment the Government estimates international students contribute to 2.5 million to the economy alone in course fees with an estimated 8.5 million overall.
So what does this mean for the Universities and Colleges in Sheffield and the economy in Sheffield?
Sheffield Universities have approximately 10,000 international students between them. Course fees at the Universities range from between £8,000 to £23,000, whilst at the Sheffield College fees can range from £2,000 to £5,000.
With the greater restrictions on students being able to qualify for a student visa and the new responsibilities placed on Educational institutions we can expect to see a down turn in the number of students wanting to study in the UK.
This will not only have an affect on Universities but to the greater economy as a whole. Reports have shown that one of the most significant impacts that international students have to the economy is the volume of personal off campus expenditure which amounted to £1.5 billion in 2003/2004. International student expenditure generated £2.4 billion of output across the economy and over 21,900 jobs in the same period.
International students play a valuable part to the British economy. With these new restrictions placed upon students and Educational institutions we can not only expect to see a down turn in the number of students coming to Sheffield but also to the wider economy in Sheffield.
