UK slaps visa curb on students from India

London, Feb 7: This could be one piece of bad news for Indians planning to go to the UK for educational purposes. Britain in a surprise move plans to abolish visas to Indians and other non-EU students who plan to take up employment there after they finish their studies. This will see a sharp fall in the number of students who go the UK especially for MBA degrees, industry sources said.

While the employment levels in the US and the UK are a major cause of worry to the respective countries, the new visa curb could impact students not only in India but elsewhere as well. The London-based Association of MBAs, which accredits business management courses in 70 countries, including the UK, said the move was of 'significant concern'.

Immigration Minister Damian Green has been quoted as saying that non-EU students cannot be given unbridled access to the UK labour market amidst concerns of unemployment. He said, “The post study work route was intended to form a bridge between study and skilled work, allowing all international graduates to remain for two years after graduation... To allow unfettered access to the jobs market for two years to anyone with a student visa from abroad is putting an unnecessary extra strain on our own graduates".

It has to be noted that international students bring considerable revenue said the association said, "a high level of income for UK universities at a time when they are struggling for funding". In British universities, MBA tuition fees range from 10,000 pounds to 50,000 pounds per year.

The Association of MBAs in a survey found that the restrictions would highly impact enrollments. Green's proposed initiative for visa curb has earned flak from various quarters.

OneIndia News