News story

Student visa changes

Tougher criteria for people wanting to come to the UK to study and limits on their rights to work are among major reforms which will come into force next month.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

A written statement laid in Parliament today also explains that two organisations have agreed to extend their activities to inspect privately funded education providers.

The Quality Assurance Agency and the Independent Schools Inspectorate will work to drive up the educational standards for sponsors bringing international students to the UK.

Bogus college clampdown

Meanwhile, figures have been released about action taken by the new government to clamp down on abuse. These show that:

  • 56 educational providers have been suspended - 32 of these are still currently suspended, and 24 have been re-instated

  • 33 educational providers have had their licences revoked

Licenses revoked

The London Education and Development Academy is among institutions that have had licenses revoked. 

An unannounced visit to the college by UK Border Agency officers last year found that:

  • language tests to ensure foreign students spoke the required level of English were not being monitored

  • qualifications were being accepted at face value and several false documents from students were found

The licence was suspended on 10 September 2010 and revoked on 9 November 2010.

Immigration minister Damian Green said: ‘This shows that this government will not hesitate in taking action against educational providers who do not abide by our rules.’

Published 13 June 2011