UK student visa changes may be good news for Australian institutions

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Created on Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:37

Written by Editorial staff

A study by a leading British immigration expert has shown that some recent changes in the country's immigration system could impact on the number of international students travelling to Australia.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has recently released the findings of a survey that focused on the changes put in place by various government departments.

In its study of over 5,000 responses, it found that the recent actions of various organisations had damaged the country's reputation as a desirable place to pursue an education.

In particular the report says that the abolition of the Post Study Work Scheme was having a profound impact on the number of international students who were willing to travel to the UK.

Chair of the UKCISA Board of Trustees Professor Paul Webley said the actions were to be "widely lamented" by both migrant students and the education industry as a whole.

Webley pointed out that the changes were in stark contrast with the policies put in place by the Australian government - with the new work visas for those migrants who complete a degree introduced with the Knight reforms making the country a much more attractive proposition over the long term.

"With the announcement by Australia of its new Post-Study Work scheme, it is quite possible that significant numbers will be attracted to go there instead and that the real impact on numbers choosing the UK will only be felt in 2012," said Webley.

The results form the second major study performed by UKCISA into the state of student migration, with the findings recommending that information and advice on the individual's option needed to be both clear and consistent.

In these cases a registered migration agent can give an educational institution the edge they need - providing sound advice to students looking to extend their stay in Australia beyond their graduation date.

This sort of valuable service is of the kind that Webley's report said was sadly lacking in the UK - with only one in five surveyed stating that they felt welcomed by the country as a whole.

He asserted: "Respondents said that the most recent changes have made the UK appear less
welcoming."

Failing to capitalise on the valuable contribution made by international students by offering qualified assistance with migration visas and submissions could be dire, with Webley pointing out that 30 UK colleges had been forced to close their doors

These measures saw around 5,000 researchers and undergraduates scrambling to find new placements at other tertiary institutions - or be forced to return home early.