Private higher education colleges face being devastated by a 'misplaced' clampdown on overseas students, CentreForum has warned.
In a new report, the think tank calls for the reversal of student visa controls which prohibit international students enrolled on HE courses at private colleges from working part time to support their studies.
Since these controls were introduced in 2011, enrolment numbers are estimated to have dropped by around 70%. One private institution, Cavendish College London, has already closed, while others face being taken over by public universities.
CentreForum had previously warned government about the adverse impact of the Tier 4 student visa reforms. It is now concerned that the impact has been 'swift and probably even more devastating than was predicted.'
In its report, CentreForum recommends that:
- The government should give Tier 4 visa applicants on HE courses at private colleges the same working rights as those studying at public universities.
- Tier 4 international students should be treated as temporary visitors rather than permanent migrants, and should be excluded from the government's net migration figures.