Bournemouth language schools fear high cost of foreign student controls

7:00pm Wednesday 25th November 2009

By Timothy John

LANGUAGE school bosses in Bournemouth fear new immigration rules for foreign students could cost the town hundreds of millions of pounds.

Schools have until next month to respond to a UK Border Agency consultation on changes to a points-based visa system for students from outside the European Economic Area.

Clive Barrow, whose BEET language centre attracts over 2,000 students every year, said proposed changes to the system would have a massive impact on the town’s economy.

“The minimum income to Bournemouth from English language courses is £200 million a year. That will be cut in half in the next 12 to 15 months if the changes go ahead,” he said.

The points-based visa system for students was introduced in March. But proposed changes to the criteria – which could demand a more advanced level of English before granting visas for UK courses – have raised concerns.

And proposals to grant visas only to students of higher education could have a huge impact on schools offering pre-university courses equivalent to A-level standard, warned Mr Barrow.

“The effect will be felt across the town. Places like Charminster, which are now buzzing with international students will become dead,” said Mr Barrow, the chairman of regional language school group, RELSA.

More than 10 per cent of students at Bournemouth University – just over 1,500 students – come to study there from over 130 countries. A spokesman said revisions already introduced to the points-based immigration system could affect the number of students able to study preparatory courses.

“BU would want to be assured that bona fide students could continue to come to the UK through this well-established route to higher education.

“If not, that could result in a financial loss to the university and a cultural loss to the region,” the spokesman said.

An accreditation system to licence language schools was introduced three years ago.

Border Agency boss Jeremy Oppenheim said the points-based system had slashed the number of bogus students entering the UK.

“The points-based system means that only those colleges and school who provide quality education and take responsibility for their students will be licensed to bring in foreign students.

“Before we tightened controls, around 4,000 UK institutions were bringing in international students; this currently stands at 2,000,” said Mr Oppenheim.