People from outside the EU studying in the UK on a student visa will not be allowed to work in Britain immediately after graduating but will be forced to return to their home countries.
The move is part of the Government’s latest plans to reduce immigration figures. It means non-EU graduates who want to work in the UK after studying here must apply for British jobs from their home countries and can only return to take up employment.
The new crackdown comes after figures showed of the 121,000 non-EU students who came to the UK in the 12 months to June 2014, 70,000 remained in the country. According to Government predictions, the figure is expected to rise by six per cent a year until the end of the decade.
The new regulations will prevent students from applying for an extension to their UK visa at the end of their course and they will not be allowed to work in the UK under the terms of their student visa. The Government is also expected to reduce the length of stay on a student visa to two years.
Universities and businesses are concerned that the move could damage the UK’s competitiveness and cut the country off from much-needed skills.
Seamus Nevin from the Institute of Directors, told the Daily Mail: “The Business Secretary's proposals to eject foreign students after graduation are misguided and would damage the British education system, our economy and global influence.
“Britain already makes it difficult and artificially expensive for international students to enter and stay, and now these proposals would eject them ignominiously when their studies are finished. Restricting talented workers from staying on in the UK would damage business and lead to a loss of important skills.”