UK to slash international student visas by nearly half, Indians troubled

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Los Angeles : In a bad news for international students planning to study in UK, the Home Office is considering cutting the numbers at universities by nearly half.

University heads have already showed dismay as some good overseas applicants have already been refused visas on spurious grounds.

The initiative was taken up Amber Rudd, the home secretary, in October when he pledged a crackdown on international student numbers at the Conservative party conference.

He also asked fellow party members to include tougher visa rules for “lower quality” universities and courses.

According to reports, international students bring more than £10.7bn to the UK economy.

University heads are frightened about speaking against the decisions in case it counts against future applicants to their institution.

The issue has especially become a harsh reality for Indian students who are having a tougher time. One Vice Chancellor was quoted saying, “They are telling some students there is exactly the same quality of course available in India so why are you coming here. That is outrageous.”

 

Sir Keith Burnett, of Sheffield University, one of the vice-chancellors who accompanied Theresa May on a recent trade delegation to India, says: “If we genuinely want to be open to the world and a global leader in free trade, we can only do so by welcoming talent. This cannot simply be our own assessment; international students need to feel welcome and that accessing the UK to study and for a period of work experience is easy. Even a hint that students are unwelcome and they will go elsewhere.”