Number of foreign students allowed into UK to be slashed by a quarter

The number of foreign students and their dependants coming to Britain could be cut by about 100,000 a year under plans unveiled by the UK government yesterday.

Home Secretary Theresa May said the "radical" clampdown would close fake colleges and block entry for those who could not speak English well.

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 said that, while the government wanted to attract the "brightest and best" to the UK, the visa system had become "broken" under Labour. She expected her measures would cut the number of student visas issued by 70,000-80,000 a year - equivalent to a 25 per cent fall. Officials said the number of dependants coming to the UK was likely to drop by 20,000.

Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, said: "The proposals to limit student visas do not go as far as we had feared.

"A strong presence of international students is an asset to Scotland's universities and Scotland as a whole, as well as making a significant contribution. It is important that international students know they are still very welcome in Scotland."

However, Scottish university principals still have concerns about the lack of opportunities for postgraduates to stay and work, as that is a factor in why international students choose Scotland in the first place.

They said it was important the changes did not set Scotland at a competitive disadvantage compared with other countries.