Foreign student numbers to be slashed

Home Secretary Theresa May said the “radical” clampdown would close fake colleges and block entry for those who cannot speak good English.

There will also be tougher restrictions on non-EU students staying in the country after their course finishes – including a rule that they must find a job that pays at least £20,000 a year.

Mrs May told MPs that while the coalition wanted to attract the “brightest and best” to the UK, the visa system became “broken” under Labour.

“This package will stop the bogus students, studying meaningless courses at fake colleges,” she said.

“It will protect our world-class institutions. It will stop the abuse that became all too common under Labour.

“And it will restore some sanity to our student visa system.”

She said she expected the measures would reduce the number of student visas issued by 70,000-80,000 annually – equivalent to a 25 per cent fall.

Officials indicated the number of dependants coming to the UK was likely to go down by around 20,000.

The crackdown is part of David Cameron’s drive to bring net immigration down to tens of thousands annually by 2015.

But there have been concerns – including from Business Secretary Vince Cable – that it could hit revenues in the UK’s education sector.

Under the reforms, the minimum proficiency in English for degree-level students is rising from B1 to B2, roughly equivalent to AS-level.

The standard will be assessed with secure English language tests for most institutions, although universities will be permitted to make their own assessments.

Despite university vice-chancellors suggesting tougher language requirements may be too strict for top-quality maths and science candidates, there will be exemptions only for “truly exceptional” cases.

For courses below degree level, individuals will now need to have reached B1 proficiency.

UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers will also be given discretion to refuse entry to students who cannot speak English without an interpreter, or who are clearly below the minimum standards.

Officials claimed it was “common” to be faced with students with very poor language skills, although they did not give any estimate of how many could be turned away at border controls.

“Let me be clear,” Mrs May said. “You need to speak English to learn at our education establishments. If you can’t, we won’t give you a visa.”

Mrs May said the changes would ensure that study, rather than work, was the “main purpose” of those granted visas.