HOME OFFICE News
Release (181/2008) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 30
October 2008
A delivery plan
for the student tier of the Australian-style points system was
announced by the Home Office today.
Under the new system, which will be rolled out from March next
year, colleges and universities who want to teach non European
Economic Area (EEA) nationals must have a licence issued by the UK
Border Agency. Licensed institutions can then sponsor non EEA
students to come to study in the UK.
The system will clamp down on bogus students and ensure only
those who benefit Britain can continue to come. Before they can
study here, foreign students must be sponsored by a UK Border
Agency-licensed education institution, supply their fingerprints
and meet new criteria.
From March next year the following measures will come into effect:
* all colleges and universities that want to recruit foreign
students will need a sponsor licence;
* every student will need a licensed sponsor; and
* stricter rules to protect the UK's labour market.
From autumn 2009 the system will be tightened further with the
introduction of a 'sponsor management system' -
dedicated technology that will make it easier for universities and
colleges to inform the UK Border Agency if students fail to enrol
or miss more than ten sessions.
Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:
"International students contribute £2.5 billion to the UK
economy in tuition fees alone. The student tier of the points
system means Britain can continue to recruit good students from
outside Europe.
"Those who come to Britain must play by the rules and
benefit the country. This new route for students will ensure we
know exactly who is coming here to study and stamp out bogus
colleges which facilitate the lawbreakers."
Since 1 January 2005, almost 300 bogus colleges have been removed
from the Department for Universities and Skills Register of
Education and Training Providers.
Britain's labour market will be protected by tough new rules
which mean visas will only be granted to students who show a
proven track record in education and are applying for a course
that meets a minimum level of qualification. Students must also be
able to demonstrate they can financially support themselves and
any of their dependants.
Minister of State for Higher Education David Lammy said:
"I welcome the education sector's involvement in
developing this implementation plan, which will help to ensure we
have a structure that allows international students to benefit
from the excellent educational experience the UK offers, while
giving them the opportunity to work in the UK for two years
following graduation.
"However, we will not tolerate the minority of individuals
who seek to damage the quality of our education system through
bogus colleges. This is why we have introduced tighter checks to
the current Register of Education and Training Providers. The new
system will toughen this process further and give extra protection
from the damage bogus colleges can cause."
Colleges and universities have been able to sign up to the
sponsorship register since July.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Implementation Plan for Tier 4 of the PBS can be found at:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/pbsdocs/
2. In March 2006 the Government published a Command Paper setting
out the new PBS, 'A points-based system: Making Migration
Work for Britain'. The new system consolidates the many
complex routes into just five tiers. It is designed to facilitate
entry to the UK of all those wanting to come to work, train and
study. A Statement of Intent for Tier 1 of the PBS was published
in December 2007. The Command Paper and Statement of Intent can be
found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
3. Tier 4 is one of five tiers of the PBS due to be rolled out
over the next 12 months. It will be introduced in March of 2009.
Tier 1, for highly skilled migrants, was introduced in February
this year and Tier 2 (for skilled migrants) and Tier 5 (for
primarily non-economic visitors) will come on-line this autumn.
4. Tier 3, which covers low skilled routes, will only be used if
specific shortages are identified that cannot be filled from the
UK's domestic or European labour force.
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