Universities and colleges
warned to sign up now to new points system if they want to teach
International students
HOME OFFICE News
Release (009/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 27
January 2009
The deadline is
fast approaching for universities, colleges and schools who want
to sponsor international students when the student tier of
Britain's tough new points system goes live, the UK Border
Agency warned today.
The points based system was created to manage the number of
people coming here to work and study in the best interests of the
UK. The introduction of the student tier - Tier 4 - will complete
the rollout of the points system.
If education institutions want to bring in international students
when Tier 4 starts at the end of March they must apply by 2
February. So far more than 800 universities, colleges and schools
have signed up.
Institutions who do not apply before the deadline will not be
able to sponsor students from the go-live date in March.
Under the new rules schools, colleges and universities must
pledge to take responsibility for any students they bring here
from outside Europe and have a licence to do so. The new system
will be rolled out over the next 12 months.
This strict new approach will weed out bogus colleges who abuse
the system and ensure that international students wanting to take
advantage of Britain's world-class universities, colleges and
schools play by the rules - preventing bogus students from failing
to show up or overstaying.
International students who want to come here under Tier 4 will
have to be sponsored by a UK Border Agency-licensed education
institution, prove that they have the means to support themselves
and their families, and supply their fingerprints.
The tough new student route means Britain can continue to recruit
good students from outside Europe while cracking down on those who
seek to abuse the system.
Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:
"Everyone who comes here must play by the rules and that
includes foreign students wanting to take advantage of our
world-class universities and colleges. The new student tier of the
points system will ensure we will know exactly who is coming here
to study and crack down on bogus colleges.
"That is why I am delighted that more than 800 colleges and
universities have registered so far. I now urge other educational
institutions to sign up so they are ready when the system goes
live at the end of March."
The Agency has worked closely with the education sector to ensure
legitimate schools, colleges and universities do not fall foul of
the new regime and are ready for the introduction of the new
rules. The new points system is just one part of the biggest shake
up to immigration and border security in a generation, along with
fingerprint visas for anyone wanting to come to the UK and
compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. If schools, colleges and universities apply to the UK Border
Agency to be a licensed sponsor by 2 February their application
will be processed by the time the system goes live at the end of
March. Educational institutions will still be able to apply after
this date, but they will not be processed in time for the go-live date.
2. Tier 4 is one of five tiers of the points based system and
will be rolled out over the next 12 months. It will be introduced
in March 2009. Tier 1, for highly skilled migrants, was introduced
in February last year and Tier 2 (for skilled migrants) and Tier 5
(for temporary workers and youth mobility) came on-line in
November last year.
3. Tier 3, which covers low skilled routes, is suspended and will
only be used if specific shortages are identified that cannot be
filled from the UK's domestic or European labour force.
4. Schools, colleges and universities have been able to sign up
to the sponsorship register since July 2008.
5. 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. For more information go to: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers/points/whatisthepointsbasedsysem/
6. In July 2008 the Government published a Statement of Intent
setting out our proposals for Tier 4. For more information go to:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/pbsdocs/statementofintent/studentsunderthepointsbased.pdf?view=Binary
7. In October 2008 the Government published the Tier 4
implementation plan. For information go to: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/pbsdocs/statementofintent/pbstier4implementationplan.pdf
8. Since 1 January 2005, almost 300 bogus colleges have been
removed from the Department for Universities and Skills Register
of Education and Training Providers.
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