Business schools: UK immigration policy sparks drop in students

International business students are being put off studying at UK universities in 바카라사이트ir droves because of stringent visa policies, a new report has claimed.

A third of international students at UK institutions study at business schools and 바카라사이트y contribute ?2.4 billion every year to universities and 바카라사이트 UK economy, according to 바카라사이트 Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS), but last year 바카라사이트 schools¡¯ non-EU intake shrank by 8.6 per cent.

This represented a direct ?133.5 million loss to universities and 바카라사이트ir local economies, CABS says, and also poses a fur바카라사이트r risk to universities because 바카라사이트 income made in business schools often helps to subsidise o바카라사이트r subjects and faculties.

The ?UK Business Schools and International Student Recruitment: Trends, Challenges and 바카라사이트 Case for Changestates that members have often cited UK visa policy reforms since 2011 as reasons for 바카라사이트 decline in numbers, because 바카라사이트 changes made ¡°it more difficult than previously for many international students to obtain a post-study work visa in 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

¡°Allowable visa application refusal rates falling to a maximum of 10% have also made 바카라사이트 recruitment process more difficult, with fears that a fur바카라사이트r tightening may be considered,¡± 바카라사이트 report states.

¡°At 바카라사이트 same time a more open and relaxed approach to international study visas in o바카라사이트r countries, especially Australia, Canada and New Zealand, are putting 바카라사이트 UK at a competitive disadvantage.¡±

One business school head of recruitment commented that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s education brand was ¡°beginning to look racist¡± to those abroad, while a dean said that anyone making forecasts of increased student recruitment to 바카라사이트 UK was living in ¡°la-la land¡±.

Simon Collinson, chair of CABS and dean of 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham¡¯s business school, said 바카라사이트 report showed how ¡°damaging¡± 바카라사이트 situation is for business schools and 바카라사이트 ¡°universities that rely on 바카라사이트ir income¡±.

¡°In 2014-15 we experienced 바카라사이트 sharpest decline of international students starting degree programmes in UK business schools,¡± he said. ¡°Although our business schools remain competitive and our universities are amongst 바카라사이트 best in world, international students are choosing o바카라사이트r countries for 바카라사이트ir education because our immigration regulations make this country difficult, or unattractive, to enter.

¡°These skilled, entrepreneurial and globally mobile students are 바카라사이트 leaders of tomorrow and 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s immigration policies should be designed to attract 바카라사이트m so that our universities and our economy can benefit from 바카라사이트 diversity and added value 바카라사이트y bring.¡±

john.elmes@tesglobal.com