Foreign students will be forced to leave the UK after their course ends

Home Secretary Theresa May.

Foreign students attending Further Education colleges are to be banned from working in Britain under a fresh crackdown on immigration ordered by Home Secretary Theresa May.

Under the new rules, non-EU college students will be denied the right to work while in the UK and will not be able to apply for a visa extension when their course finishes.

Students will have to leave the country before applying to return under a work visa.

Official figures show that 121,000 non-EU students entered the UK in the 12 months to June last year, but only 51,000 left – a net influx of 70,000.

The government estimates that the number of foreign students coming to the UK will rise by more than 6 per cent a year up to 2020.

The length of stay is also expected to be cut to two years when the plans are unveiled this week.

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said it was ‘part of our plan to control immigration for the benefit of Britain’.

Taxpayers who pay for colleges expect them to be providing top-class education, not a back door to a British work visa

Immigration minister James Brokenshire

‘Immigration offenders want to sell illegal access to the UK jobs market and there are plenty of people willing to buy.

‘Hard-working taxpayers who are helping to pay for publicly funded colleges expect them to be providing top-class education, not a back door to a British work visa.’

But universities have warned that any clampdown could damage the sector and business leaders are also wary of the move, warning it could rob Britain of vital skills.

Seamus Nevin, head of employment and skills at the Institute of Directors, said: ‘The Business Secretary’s proposals to eject foreign students after graduation are misguided and would damage the British education system, our economy and global influence.

‘Britain already makes it difficult and artificially expensive for international students to enter and stay, and now these proposals would eject them ignominiously when their studies are finished.

‘Restricting talented workers from staying on in the UK would damage business and lead to a loss of important skills.

‘Shutting the door to highly-trained international graduates at a time when our economy needs them most would be hugely damaging for UK businesses.

‘In the interests our education sector, our businesses, and our international standing, the Business Secretary should reconsider this proposal.’

Source: Daily Mail