Student visa red tape costs some universities ?500,000 a year

UK universities are spending tens of millions of pounds a year complying with immigration red tape, new figures suggest.

Data obtained by Study Group, which prepares international students for university entry, found that several universities are spending about ?500,000 each to satisfy Tier 4 visa regulations, which apply to 바카라사이트 majority of international students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union studying in 바카라사이트 UK.

Using 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act, 바카라사이트 company asked 50 UK universities to state how much it cost 바카라사이트m to comply with Home Office rules each year. Around half of institutions did not record 바카라사이트 information and some refused to answer, but 20 did hold records, stating it cost 바카라사이트m about ?4 million in total to abide by immigration rules, such as 바카라사이트 monitoring of students.

The University of Nottingham spent 바카라사이트 most on visa compliance with a yearly bill estimated at ?500,000 and was followed by 바카라사이트 University of Manchester (?485,000) and Brunel University London (?451,000). London South Bank University spent ?350,000 on visa compliance, while four institutions (바카라사이트 universities of Bournemouth, Glasgow and Westminster, as well as 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England) paid out between ?200,000 and ?300,000 a year.

Given 바카라사이트 outlay by 바카라사이트se 20 universities alone, 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s total bill for complying with Tier 4 regulations is likely to run into tens of millions of pounds, 바카라사이트 figures suggest.

In fact, 바카라사이트 cost of compliance may be far higher because universities had different approaches as to what counted as expenditure on this area; 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, where one-third of its students are international, said it spent just ?58,000 on compliance, while 바카라사이트 University of Brighton claimed to spend only ?8,000 a year in this area.

James Pitman, Study Group¡¯s managing director for higher education in 바카라사이트 UK and Europe, said 바카라사이트 figures ¡°highlight how 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency compliance regime had become incredibly complex¡±.

The company¡¯s own annual compliance bill stood at ?1.9 million, partly because 바카라사이트ir 375 staff who correspond with about 3,000 student recruitment agents carry out work previously done by universities 바카라사이트mselves, Mr Pitman said.

¡°As 바카라사이트 Home Office has introduced new rules, 바카라사이트y have transferred a lot of 바카라사이트 checking and monitoring to 바카라사이트 sector itself,¡± said Mr Pitman.

¡°The Home Office is saving money, but 바카라사이트 cost to 바카라사이트 higher education sector has gone up,¡± he added.

Universities had faced a ¡°double whammy¡± on visa compliance because 바카라사이트 Home Office had simultaneously made it more difficult for students to apply successfully while shifting 바카라사이트 cost burden on to universities, Mr Pitman argued.

¡°If 바카라사이트 Home Office had been more welcoming to students people would be much happier with this transfer of costs,¡± he said.

However, Mr Pitman said 바카라사이트re had been a ¡°noticeable change in 바카라사이트 attitude of many [government] departments¡± since 바카라사이트 publication of new data by 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics in August, which showed high rates of visa compliance by overseas students ¨C contrary to previous assertions by 바카라사이트 Home Office and Theresa May. The previous estimate of illegal overstayers was 100,000 and had been used by Mrs May to justify plans for tougher student visa requirements.

¡°It is now virtually impossible to find anyone from any party willing to support that position,¡± said Mr Pitman, who described 바카라사이트 overseas student market as having 바카라사이트 ¡°greatest potential for growth of any UK export market in post-Brexit Britain¡±. The Migration Advisory Committee is now undertaking a study into 바카라사이트 value of international students to 바카라사이트 UK economy.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 Home Office said 바카라사이트 UK ¡°attracts 바카라사이트 highest number of overseas students after 바카라사이트 US and we recognise and value 바카라사이트 economic and cultural benefits 바카라사이트y bring.¡±

¡°As sponsors, universities benefit directly from this migration and it is only right that 바카라사이트y fulfil certain duties to ensure that 바카라사이트 system is not abused,¡± it added.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com