'Tighter UK visa rules to control migrants, bogus colleges'

"We are committed to controlling the total number of migrants coming to Great Britain and the way we will be doing that is by cracking down on bogus colleges in Britain, which are encouraging people into the country who are not students," Minister for Universities and Science, David Willets said.

Speaking to reporters here at the sidelines of a panel discussion at IIT-Madras, he also said that there had been problems with foreign students who were not competent enough as students, though they entered Britain claiming to be so. "There have been problems, not linked to India, in the past where sometimes the necessary controls every nation must apply have not been properly applied. Some people claiming to come to Britain to study were not competent enough. So it is a matter of proper policing," he said.

Willets, however, said his country valued the links between Indian students, academicians and their British counterparts. He also wished more British students come to India for studies. Britain had in February this year announced new measures aimed at cutting the number of student visas issued abroad and prevent misuse of the immigration system.

Under the new measures, successful applicants from India and other countries outside the European Union will have to meet a higher bar on English language requirement.
Students taking courses below degree level will be allowed to work for only 10 hours a week, instead of the previous 20.