Universities in the United Kingdom (UK) are allegedly enrolling foreign students with poor or limited English by charging higher fees, BBC reported. According to the report, most of the students paid other people to get their coursework done and to register attendance for them in the lecture.&nbsp;

The University and College Union (UCU) further told BBC that some institutions are overlooking the language skills of foreign students so they can get higher fees from them. A professor even told the British news outlet that around 70 per cent of his recent students pursuing a master's have inadequate English.&nbsp;

Universities UK, comprising 141 institutions, rejected the claims, saying it has strict language requirements for students coming from abroad.&nbsp;

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UCU has around 120,000 lecturers and university staff, and one of its members, Jo Grady, told BBC that it's an open secret that students who are not good in English as a language come to the UK to pursue their studies.&nbsp;

"When we speak to members, we hear about the tricks that are pulled to have people pass the relevant language test and get on to courses," Grady told BBC.&nbsp;

Rose Stephenson from the Higher Education Policy Institute, an independent think tank, told BBC that at least seven out of 10 students pursuing master's in England are from overseas.&nbsp;

University tuition fees for undergraduate students, who are from England only, are capped at £9,250 ($11,705) whereas for foreign students, there is no upper limit.&nbsp;

"You can charge a foreign student as much as they're willing to pay," Stephenson told BBC.

It was further revealed that postgraduate fees are also not capped for foreign students, so an overseas student pursuing a master's in the UK at an elite university pays around &nbsp;£50,000 ($63,260).&nbsp;

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A whistleblower working at an education provider that prepares international students for university told BBC that agents target rich foreign families or people who have enough money to pay.&nbsp;

We knew that those universities were increasingly desperate and would go along with our plans without much scrutiny of how those students were being found. No independent party is looking at the grades or the examinations. It's the Wild West, in a way," the whistleblower further told BBC.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Universities in the United Kingdom (UK) are allegedly enrolling foreign students with poor or limited English by charging higher fees, BBC reported. According to the report, most of the students paid other people to get their coursework done and to register attendance for them in the lecture.

Universities in the United Kingdom (UK) are allegedly enrolling foreign students with poor or limited English by charging higher fees, BBC reported. According to the report, most of the students paid other people to get their coursework done and to register attendance for them in the lecture. The University and College Union (UCU) further told BBC that some institutions are overlooking the language skills of foreign students so they can get higher fees from them. A professor even told the British news outlet that around 70 per cent of his recent students pursuing a master's have inadequate English. Universities UK, comprising 141 institutions, rejected the claims, saying it has strict language requirements for students coming from abroad. Also read | Jaguar's new electric car divides internet, company says 'no desire to be loved by everybody' UCU has around 120,000 lecturers and university staff, and one of its members, Jo Grady, told BBC that it's an open secret that students who are not good in English as a language come to the UK to pursue their studies. "When we speak to members, we hear about the tricks that are pulled to have people pass the relevant language test and get on to courses," Grady told BBC. Rose Stephenson from the Higher Education Policy Institute, an independent think tank, told BBC that at least seven out of 10 students pursuing master's in England are from overseas. University tuition fees for undergraduate students, who are from England only, are capped at £9,250 ($11,705) whereas for foreign students, there is no upper limit. "You can charge a foreign student as much as they're willing to pay," Stephenson told BBC. It was further revealed that postgraduate fees are also not capped for foreign students, so an overseas student pursuing a master's in the UK at an elite university pays around £50,000 ($63,260). Also read | THIS country is planning to make fake news an unbailable offence A whistleblower working at an education provider that prepares international students for university told BBC that agents target rich foreign families or people who have enough money to pay. We knew that those universities were increasingly desperate and would go along with our plans without much scrutiny of how those students were being found. No independent party is looking at the grades or the examinations. It's the Wild West, in a way," the whistleblower further told BBC. (With inputs from agencies)

UK universities enrolling foreign students with poor English to get higher fees: Report

Indian students planning to pursue their studies in the United Kingdom this year have received a positive development. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended maintaining the current form of the graduate route work visa, popularly known as the post-study work visa (PSW). This decision brings relief to thousands of students from India who aspire to study abroad, ensuring that they can continue to pursue their academic and career goals in the UK without any changes to the visa programme.

This visa allows foreign students to work in the UK for two years after completing their studies at a British university. These universities include prestigious institutions like those in the Russell Group such as Oxford, Cambridge, or LSE, as well as other universities like Sussex, SOAS, and the University of West London.

For those unfamiliar, Home Secretary James Cleverly assigned the committee the responsibility to assess the graduate route visa and present the report by May 14.

“Based on our analysis, the graduate route is broadly achieving its objectives and supporting the International Education Strategy. We recommend retaining the graduate route in its current form," the report read.

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<h2>Is there any misuse of the graduate route visa?</h2>

The committee explicitly stated that there is no widespread evidence of misuse of this visa category, namely the graduate route. The potential for misuse is minimal due to the limited number of conditions imposed by this route. However, the report notes that exploitation may occur due to unethical practices by agents who may be improperly promoting UK higher education.

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It was noted that a total of 114,000 graduate route visas were issued in 2023, with an additional 30,000 given to dependents. The report highlighted that the usage of the graduate route was highest among four countries: India, China, Pakistan, and Nigeria, collectively comprising 70 per cent of all graduate visas. India alone accounted for 40 per cent of this, totalling 45,600 visas.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian students planning to pursue their studies in the United Kingdom this year have received a positive development. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended maintaining the current form of the graduate route work visa, popularly known as the post-study work visa (PSW).

Indian students planning to pursue their studies in the United Kingdom this year have received a positive development. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended maintaining the current form of the graduate route work visa, popularly known as the post-study work visa (PSW). This decision brings relief to thousands of students from India who aspire to study abroad, ensuring that they can continue to pursue their academic and career goals in the UK without any changes to the visa programme. This visa allows foreign students to work in the UK for two years after completing their studies at a British university. These universities include prestigious institutions like those in the Russell Group such as Oxford, Cambridge, or LSE, as well as other universities like Sussex, SOAS, and the University of West London. For those unfamiliar, Home Secretary James Cleverly assigned the committee the responsibility to assess the graduate route visa and present the report by May 14. “Based on our analysis, the graduate route is broadly achieving its objectives and supporting the International Education Strategy. We recommend retaining the graduate route in its current form," the report read. Also read | 'Part of American life': After TikTok, eight TikTokers sue US government over potential ban Is there any misuse of the graduate route visa? The committee explicitly stated that there is no widespread evidence of misuse of this visa category, namely the graduate route. The potential for misuse is minimal due to the limited number of conditions imposed by this route. However, the report notes that exploitation may occur due to unethical practices by agents who may be improperly promoting UK higher education. Also watch | Israel-war: US students stage pro-Palestinian protest, demand universities cut tie with Israel It was noted that a total of 114,000 graduate route visas were issued in 2023, with an additional 30,000 given to dependents. The report highlighted that the usage of the graduate route was highest among four countries: India, China, Pakistan, and Nigeria, collectively comprising 70 per cent of all graduate visas. India alone accounted for 40 per cent of this, totalling 45,600 visas. (With inputs from agencies)

UK’s graduate route visa to stay, offering major benefits to Indian students

Many leading institutions in Britain have an “unhealthy reliance” on international students, especially the Chinese, a report led by a former minister has stated.

As the undergraduate fees have been frozen for local students since 2018 and due to the increased costs, many universities rely on international students to recover tuition fees.

The report by the Industry and Regulators Committee says that the universities are struggling to diversify the international student population as the British government has frozen tuition fees for local students and due to increased costs, the Industry and Regulators Committee led by former universities minister Lord&nbsp;Jo Johnson, BBC reported.

The report calls on the government and the regulator, the Office for Students, to tackle the "looming crisis", adding that a sustained diplomatic rift between Britain and China could financially affect the universities.

The undergraduate fees were frozen at £9,250 in 2018 to deliver better value for students. As a result, the institutions are now making a loss when teaching domestic students and conducting research, the report says.

<h2>China accounts for 22% of international students in UK</h2>

According to Higher Education Student Statistics, there were 469,160 international students in the UK in 2017-18, rising to 679,970 by 2021-22.

And last year, the Office for Student figures showed that 22.3 per cent were from China, followed by students from India and Nigeria.

“The sector continues to follow a ‘cross your fingers’ strategy that decoupling is in the future never necessary for China, in the same ways it was for relations with Russia in February 2022. The China question therefore to a great degree remains unanswered,” the report states.

The paper noted that China has become the world’s largest spender on research and development and UK universities benefit from the higher tuition fees paid by Chinese students.

“The government must urgently help universities with a framework for how to maximise the benefits from research collaboration and student and academic mobility, while managing the downsides, including the risks to national security from bad-faith actors and the dangers of over-reliance on a single country,” the study said.

<h2>Financial risk for British universities?</h2>

The proportion of Chinese full-time doctoral entrants had increased significantly over the past five years, from 17 per cent in 2017/18 to 28 per cent in 2021/22, even if they had declined in number in the most recent data, according to the report.

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In May, the Office for Students (OfS) warned that an over-reliance on tuition fees from overseas students – especially those from a single country such as China – was a financial risk for English universities.

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The OfS wrote to 23 institutions with high levels of student recruitment from China to ensure they had contingency plans to protect them from any possible drop in income from overseas students.

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Many leading institutions in Britain have an “unhealthy reliance” on international students, especially the Chinese, a report led by a former minister has stated.

Many leading institutions in Britain have an “unhealthy reliance” on international students, especially the Chinese, a report led by a former minister has stated. As the undergraduate fees have been frozen for local students since 2018 and due to the increased costs, many universities rely on international students to recover tuition fees. The report by the Industry and Regulators Committee says that the universities are struggling to diversify the international student population as the British government has frozen tuition fees for local students and due to increased costs, the Industry and Regulators Committee led by former universities minister Lord Jo Johnson, BBC reported. The report calls on the government and the regulator, the Office for Students, to tackle the "looming crisis", adding that a sustained diplomatic rift between Britain and China could financially affect the universities. The undergraduate fees were frozen at £9,250 in 2018 to deliver better value for students. As a result, the institutions are now making a loss when teaching domestic students and conducting research, the report says. China accounts for 22% of international students in UK According to Higher Education Student Statistics, there were 469,160 international students in the UK in 2017-18, rising to 679,970 by 2021-22. And last year, the Office for Student figures showed that 22.3 per cent were from China, followed by students from India and Nigeria. “The sector continues to follow a ‘cross your fingers’ strategy that decoupling is in the future never necessary for China, in the same ways it was for relations with Russia in February 2022. The China question therefore to a great degree remains unanswered,” the report states. The paper noted that China has become the world’s largest spender on research and development and UK universities benefit from the higher tuition fees paid by Chinese students. “The government must urgently help universities with a framework for how to maximise the benefits from research collaboration and student and academic mobility, while managing the downsides, including the risks to national security from bad-faith actors and the dangers of over-reliance on a single country,” the study said. Financial risk for British universities? The proportion of Chinese full-time doctoral entrants had increased significantly over the past five years, from 17 per cent in 2017/18 to 28 per cent in 2021/22, even if they had declined in number in the most recent data, according to the report. Also read | US cop caught on cam joking over Indian student’s death In May, the Office for Students (OfS) warned that an over-reliance on tuition fees from overseas students – especially those from a single country such as China – was a financial risk for English universities. Also read | Kim and Putin hold talks on space and defence cooperation The OfS wrote to 23 institutions with high levels of student recruitment from China to ensure they had contingency plans to protect them from any possible drop in income from overseas students. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Universities in United Kingdom are testing a new link to teach students in China to give them a chance to complete their distance education despite the country's internet restictions.

However, students only have access to content under&nbsp;an "allowed" list while using this link.

Four Russell Group universities including King's College London, Queen Mary University of London, York and Southampton are a part of this pilot project&nbsp;run by JISC, formerly the Joint Information Systems Committee, which provides digital services for UK universities.

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The project would allow students in China to have better access to UK courses "while complying with local regulations", according to a spokeswoman who denied this move as an acceptance to ''censorshiop''.

It comes as British universities&nbsp;were&nbsp;urged to adopt a risk management strategy for any dealings with China amid concerns that academics are self-censoring because of fears about the consequences of offending the Chinese authorities.

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Some websites are blocked or filtered under China's internet censorship and there have been concerns that students in China were unable to&nbsp;study online, such as clicking on an embedded link in a scholarly article.

The technical solution creates a virtual connection between the student in China and the online network of the UK university, where the course is being taught. It has been provided free by the Chinese internet firm Alibaba Cloud.

Chinese students have become an important source of revenue for UK universities, representing almost a quarter of all overseas students.

&nbsp;

<ul>
</ul>

Universities in United Kingdom are testing a new link to teach students in China to give them a chance to complete their distance education despite the country's internet restictions.

Universities in United Kingdom are testing a new link to teach students in China to give them a chance to complete their distance education despite the country's internet restictions. However, students only have access to content under an "allowed" list while using this link. Four Russell Group universities including King's College London, Queen Mary University of London, York and Southampton are a part of this pilot project run by JISC, formerly the Joint Information Systems Committee, which provides digital services for UK universities. Also read: Students sue top US universities over switch to online courses The project would allow students in China to have better access to UK courses "while complying with local regulations", according to a spokeswoman who denied this move as an acceptance to ''censorshiop''. It comes as British universities were urged to adopt a risk management strategy for any dealings with China amid concerns that academics are self-censoring because of fears about the consequences of offending the Chinese authorities. Also read: Chinese universities cancelling entrance exams for foreign students Some websites are blocked or filtered under China's internet censorship and there have been concerns that students in China were unable to study online, such as clicking on an embedded link in a scholarly article. The technical solution creates a virtual connection between the student in China and the online network of the UK university, where the course is being taught. It has been provided free by the Chinese internet firm Alibaba Cloud. Chinese students have become an important source of revenue for UK universities, representing almost a quarter of all overseas students.

British universities complying with Chinese internet restrictions

The UK government has released a White Paper on its post-Brexit visas and immigration strategy, which is expected to benefit Indian students and professionals as it focuses on skills rather than country of origin.

The UK's future skills-based immigration system, tabled in the House of Commons on Wednesday by UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid, removes any cap on highly-skilled migrants from anywhere in the world and improves the post-study work offering for international students.

The proposals, set to be phased in from December 2021 after the proposed transition period for Britain's exit from the European Union (EU), claim to level the country's immigration playing field with the end of the free movement for people from within the 28-member economic bloc.

"As we leave the European Union, the free movement will end. This will be a system where it is workers' skills that matter, not which country they come from," <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-business-will-be-able-to-bring-in-high-skilled-workers-post-brexit-pm-may-180653">British Prime Minister Theresa May</a> said in her foreword to the strategy.

"We are taking a skills-based approach to ensure we can attract the brightest and best migrants to the UK," added Javid, who made a reference to his own Pakistani origins as the "son of immigrant parents".

Under the new proposals, an annual cap of 20,700 on the number of skilled work visas issued will be removed, likely to benefit doctors and IT professionals from India, among others. There will also be a new 12-month visa route for workers at any skill level for a temporary period to allow businesses to hire the staff they need on a time-bound basis.

"People arriving on this route will not be able to bring family members with them, won't accrue rights to settle in the UK and will have a 12-month cooling off period once their visa expires," the UK Home Office said.

The onerous requirement for labour market tests by employers wanting to sponsor an overseas skilled worker is also to be done away with.

The plans were broadly welcomed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which said the White Paper recognises the value offered by skilled workers from countries like India.

"Indian Industry has long called for a fair, transparent and skills-based immigration system, and today's proposals go some way to achieving these goals," said Jim Bligh, of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Chair of CII's UK India Business Forum.

"Tackling the UK's skills gaps, particularly in digital and technology, must remain a key focus for government and it is welcome that this paper recognises the value that skilled workers from overseas can bring to helping improve the UK's skills base,"&nbsp;he said.

Under changes proposed to attract international students to the UK, the government said it would "improve the current offer" to those who have completed a degree who want to stay on in the UK to work after they have completed their studies by offering six months' post-study leave to all Master's students and Bachelor's students studying at an institution with degree-awarding powers.

This is aimed at giving them more time to find permanent skilled work and to work temporarily during that period.

"We will also allow for students studying a Bachelor's level or above to be able to apply to switch into the skilled workers route up to three months before the end of their course in the UK, and from outside of the UK for two years after their graduation," the White Paper notes.

Universities UK International, the representative group for the country's higher education institutions which has been campaigning for a better post-study offer, said the proposals recognise the important contributions made by international students to the UK.

"Allowing graduates to stay on for longer to find work in the UK sends the message that international students are welcome here, and we value the skills they bring. These changes will have a real, positive impact on the students who come here to study and their opportunities after graduating," said Vivienne Stern, Director of Universities UK International.

However, the group added that it will continue to campaign for a longer two-year post-study work visa.

As part of some of the more contentious aspects of the new immigration White Paper, the government will hold a consultation on a minimum salary requirement of 30,000 pounds for skilled migrants seeking five-year visas and low-skilled workers may be able to apply for short-term visas of up to a year.

The document forms the basis for the Immigration and Social Security Coordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, to be published on Thursday, which ends free movement for EU nationals and creates the legal framework for a future UK borders and immigration system after Brexit. It also creates parity in the way migrants can access the country's benefits system, which will apply equally to both EU and non-EU nationals.

The new system will be implemented in a phased approach from 2021, following an extensive 12-month programme of engagement with businesses, stakeholders and the public, the Home Office said.

While it does not make a specific reference to the ruling Conservative Party's manifesto pledge to bring immigration down to the tens of thousands annually, the government stressed that the target remains in place.&nbsp;

The UK government has released a White Paper on its post-Brexit visas and immigration strategy, which is expected to benefit Indian students and professionals as it focuses on skills rather than country of origin.

The UK government has released a White Paper on its post-Brexit visas and immigration strategy, which is expected to benefit Indian students and professionals as it focuses on skills rather than country of origin. The UK's future skills-based immigration system, tabled in the House of Commons on Wednesday by UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid, removes any cap on highly-skilled migrants from anywhere in the world and improves the post-study work offering for international students. The proposals, set to be phased in from December 2021 after the proposed transition period for Britain's exit from the European Union (EU), claim to level the country's immigration playing field with the end of the free movement for people from within the 28-member economic bloc. "As we leave the European Union, the free movement will end. This will be a system where it is workers' skills that matter, not which country they come from," British Prime Minister Theresa May said in her foreword to the strategy. "We are taking a skills-based approach to ensure we can attract the brightest and best migrants to the UK," added Javid, who made a reference to his own Pakistani origins as the "son of immigrant parents". Under the new proposals, an annual cap of 20,700 on the number of skilled work visas issued will be removed, likely to benefit doctors and IT professionals from India, among others. There will also be a new 12-month visa route for workers at any skill level for a temporary period to allow businesses to hire the staff they need on a time-bound basis. "People arriving on this route will not be able to bring family members with them, won't accrue rights to settle in the UK and will have a 12-month cooling off period once their visa expires," the UK Home Office said. The onerous requirement for labour market tests by employers wanting to sponsor an overseas skilled worker is also to be done away with. The plans were broadly welcomed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which said the White Paper recognises the value offered by skilled workers from countries like India. "Indian Industry has long called for a fair, transparent and skills-based immigration system, and today's proposals go some way to achieving these goals," said Jim Bligh, of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Chair of CII's UK India Business Forum. "Tackling the UK's skills gaps, particularly in digital and technology, must remain a key focus for government and it is welcome that this paper recognises the value that skilled workers from overseas can bring to helping improve the UK's skills base," he said. Under changes proposed to attract international students to the UK, the government said it would "improve the current offer" to those who have completed a degree who want to stay on in the UK to work after they have completed their studies by offering six months' post-study leave to all Master's students and Bachelor's students studying at an institution with degree-awarding powers. This is aimed at giving them more time to find permanent skilled work and to work temporarily during that period. "We will also allow for students studying a Bachelor's level or above to be able to apply to switch into the skilled workers route up to three months before the end of their course in the UK, and from outside of the UK for two years after their graduation," the White Paper notes. Universities UK International, the representative group for the country's higher education institutions which has been campaigning for a better post-study offer, said the proposals recognise the important contributions made by international students to the UK. "Allowing graduates to stay on for longer to find work in the UK sends the message that international students are welcome here, and we value the skills they bring. These changes will have a real, positive impact on the students who come here to study and their opportunities after graduating," said Vivienne Stern, Director of Universities UK International. However, the group added that it will continue to campaign for a longer two-year post-study work visa. As part of some of the more contentious aspects of the new immigration White Paper, the government will hold a consultation on a minimum salary requirement of 30,000 pounds for skilled migrants seeking five-year visas and low-skilled workers may be able to apply for short-term visas of up to a year. The document forms the basis for the Immigration and Social Security Coordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, to be published on Thursday, which ends free movement for EU nationals and creates the legal framework for a future UK borders and immigration system after Brexit. It also creates parity in the way migrants can access the country's benefits system, which will apply equally to both EU and non-EU nationals. The new system will be implemented in a phased approach from 2021, following an extensive 12-month programme of engagement with businesses, stakeholders and the public, the Home Office said. While it does not make a specific reference to the ruling Conservative Party's manifesto pledge to bring immigration down to the tens of thousands annually, the government stressed that the target remains in place.

UK's post-Brexit visa strategy to benefit Indian students, professionals

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