<p>British immigration authorities have closed down an estimated 500 bogus colleges operating in the country over the last 18 months, affecting a number of students from abroad, including from India.<br /><br /></p>.<p>However, top officials in the education sector insist that for genuine and legitimate students, Britain is still a viable option and Indians still account for the second highest number of non-EU students in the country.<br /><br />Professor Eric Thomas, President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol said acknowledged today that a large number of colleges had been closed down over the last year and a half but asserted that there is no cap on the numbers of international students coming to the country.<br /><br />"The UK Border agencies have closed 500 colleges in the UK within the last 18 months. They have ceased to trade," Thomas told newsmen.<br /><br />However, he said that "despite some recent high-profile negative coverage of the UK's student visa system, the reality is that the UK welcomes genuine international students".<br /><br />He said international students make a fundamental contribution to university life and international demand for places remains strong. Besides, plenty of post-study work opportunities also continue to exist, he said.<br /><br />Only last month, the UK Border Agency had revoked the London Metropolitan University's (LMU) licence to sponsor non-EU students, a decision that affected a number of Indians.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Joanna Newman, Director of the UK Higher Education International Unit (IU) told PTI that there has been a slight decrease in the number of students registered here following a number of damaging newspaper reports but India still ranked No 2 as for as non-EU students in the UK in 2010/11.<br /><br />"There were as many as 39,090 Indian students in 2010/11 as against 67,325 Chinese students. We have close relations with the Indian Government. We are not only working with the Indian Government but collaborating with various Universities," she said.<br /><br />She said there has been a number of changes to the system but legitimate students can still get a student visa if they meet the UK Border Agency's requirements.<br /><br />"Post-study work is still an option for international students once they graduate, through a new category. No further changes to the UK immigration system are planned," she said.<br /><br />She said the UK remained one of the most attractive study destinations in the world - second only to the USA and one of the world's leading research powers measured by total publications and citations.<br /><br />Answering a question on abuse of the Student Visa system, she said, "the abuse is less than 2 per cent and it is incumbent on the Universities to verify the genuineness of students".</p>
<p>British immigration authorities have closed down an estimated 500 bogus colleges operating in the country over the last 18 months, affecting a number of students from abroad, including from India.<br /><br /></p>.<p>However, top officials in the education sector insist that for genuine and legitimate students, Britain is still a viable option and Indians still account for the second highest number of non-EU students in the country.<br /><br />Professor Eric Thomas, President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol said acknowledged today that a large number of colleges had been closed down over the last year and a half but asserted that there is no cap on the numbers of international students coming to the country.<br /><br />"The UK Border agencies have closed 500 colleges in the UK within the last 18 months. They have ceased to trade," Thomas told newsmen.<br /><br />However, he said that "despite some recent high-profile negative coverage of the UK's student visa system, the reality is that the UK welcomes genuine international students".<br /><br />He said international students make a fundamental contribution to university life and international demand for places remains strong. Besides, plenty of post-study work opportunities also continue to exist, he said.<br /><br />Only last month, the UK Border Agency had revoked the London Metropolitan University's (LMU) licence to sponsor non-EU students, a decision that affected a number of Indians.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Joanna Newman, Director of the UK Higher Education International Unit (IU) told PTI that there has been a slight decrease in the number of students registered here following a number of damaging newspaper reports but India still ranked No 2 as for as non-EU students in the UK in 2010/11.<br /><br />"There were as many as 39,090 Indian students in 2010/11 as against 67,325 Chinese students. We have close relations with the Indian Government. We are not only working with the Indian Government but collaborating with various Universities," she said.<br /><br />She said there has been a number of changes to the system but legitimate students can still get a student visa if they meet the UK Border Agency's requirements.<br /><br />"Post-study work is still an option for international students once they graduate, through a new category. No further changes to the UK immigration system are planned," she said.<br /><br />She said the UK remained one of the most attractive study destinations in the world - second only to the USA and one of the world's leading research powers measured by total publications and citations.<br /><br />Answering a question on abuse of the Student Visa system, she said, "the abuse is less than 2 per cent and it is incumbent on the Universities to verify the genuineness of students".</p>