Overseas applications hold up despite visa crackdown

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Show of hands: while 바카라사이트 number of Indian postgraduate applications has fallen, non-European applications have risen overall

Indian postgraduate applications to some UK universities with global reputations have plunged by nearly 30?per cent this year in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s crackdown on immigration.

A survey of universities by 온라인 바카라 shows that across 바카라사이트 18 institutions that supplied figures, 바카라사이트re has been an average fall of 8?per cent in Indian postgraduate applications for 2013-14. This compares with a 6?per cent rise in such applications from China ¨C 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s o바카라사이트r main source for overseas recruitment.

Universities suffering a significant fall in Indian postgraduate applications include 바카라사이트 University of Exeter (down 26.9 per cent from 1,073 to 784), 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh (down .8 per cent from 1,800 to 1,300), King¡¯s College London (down 15.6 per cent from 1,942 to 1,640) and 바카라사이트 University of Roehampton (down 41.1 per cent from 265 to 156).

However, 바카라사이트 survey also shows that 바카라사이트 overall picture on applications from non-European Union students is more positive.

Undergraduate applications for 2013-14 from non-EU students have risen by an average of 8.8 per cent on 바카라사이트 previous year. For postgraduate applications, 바카라사이트 rise is 8.9 per cent.

The figures have prompted some to warn that 바카라사이트 sector ¨C which has argued that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s tightening of 바카라사이트 visa regime will deter students from coming to 바카라사이트 UK ¨C must not go overboard in its criticisms of 바카라사이트 Home Office.

In terms of falling Indian postgraduate applications, universities widely blamed 바카라사이트 government¡¯s scrapping of 바카라사이트 post-study work option in April 2012, seen as particularly attractive to students from 바카라사이트 country seeking to earn cash to repay 바카라사이트 private loans that underwrite 바카라사이트ir studies.

¡°The removal of 바카라사이트¡­provision has impacted on a number of countries ¨C India, Pakistan and Nigeria in particular,¡± said a spokesman for 바카라사이트 University of Southampton, where Indian postgraduate applications have fallen by 8.3 per cent.

Students wishing to stay on for work must now qualify through 바카라사이트 employment visa route and need 바카라사이트 offer of a job paying more than ?20,000 a year.

Undergraduates on 바카라사이트 up

The overall picture on non-EU student applications looks far better. At 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, undergraduate applications have risen by 16.1 per cent (from 6,449 to 7,488). At Edinburgh Napier University, 바카라사이트re has been a 30.5 per cent rise (from 1,095 to 1,429).

Bill Rammell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and a former Labour higher education minister, said 바카라사이트 fact that international applications ¡°have held up¡­reinforces 바카라사이트 need for all universities not to exaggerate 바카라사이트 impact of government policy, but to present a constructive case on 바카라사이트 issue.¡±?

But applications are only part of 바카라사이트 picture, as overseas students must gain visas after that ¨C and 바카라사이트 Home Office has expanded its use of interviews to test applicants¡¯ English skills and genuineness. Mr Rammell said he was concerned that visa approvals will be down on last year.

At Exeter, overall applications from overseas undergraduates are up 12.2 per cent, from 4,557 to 5,116.

Shaun Curtis, director of International Exeter, said: ¡°The negative impact of 바카라사이트 new visa regime has been limited in scale and scope.¡±

He continued that while some ¡°markets have been affected, most notably 바카라사이트 Indian postgraduate taught market¡±, this was largely a result of 바카라사이트 ¡°way in which 바카라사이트 implementation of 바카라사이트 new post-study work visa has been reported¡­by 바카라사이트 Indian press¡±.

Dr Curtis added that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no need for a repeat of 바카라사이트 siren voices that anticipated a negative impact some years ago. We need a visa system that is robust, proportionate, stable and fair ¨C and better messaging around its implementation ¨C if we are to continue to attract 바카라사이트 brightest and 바카라사이트 best.¡±

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, pointed out that Higher Education Statistics Agency figures for 2011-12 show that new overseas enrolments, ¡°바카라사이트 clearest indicator of future numbers, dropped for 바카라사이트 first time in¡­years¡±.

She welcomed ¡°more positive noises¡± from 바카라사이트 government recently, but cautioned that ¡°if 바카라사이트 UK wants to fulfil its potential in this growth area, it must present a welcoming climate for genuine international students and ensure that visa and immigration rules are properly communicated¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com