Changes to UK visa system are putting off international students, poll suggests

Many international students believe that changes to the UK’s visa system mean they are no longer welcome to study in the country, according to a survey.

The survey by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) whose members include every UK university as well as many higher and further education colleges, found that almost one in five, 19%, disagreed with the statement that ‘the UK welcomes well qualified international students’. A further fifth, 20%, neither agreed or disagreed.

    ‘The fact that nearly four in 10 of those well qualified students who successfully gained places and visas did not endorse the statement that the UK welcomes international students is a very real cause of concern,’ the report concluded.

The poll did find that 70% of students applying from overseas found the visa application process quick and efficient, compared to 59% who said the same in 2009.

But over half, 52%, reported they had encountered confusion or difficulty due to changes to the visa system. Just 28% said they thought the cost of a visa was reasonable, down from 33% in 2009.

The survey found that changing the rules in the middle of an admissions cycle caused confusion or difficulty for more than half of the students, with a further 10% having to take extra English language tests or pre-sessional courses. Some of the students who had to take the extra English test were from majority English speaking countries such as Singapore and South Africa and found it ‘completely illogical’.

NEWS BY:http://www.expatforum.com/britain/changes-to-uk-visa-system-are-putting-off-international-students-poll-suggests.html