About UKCISA:
Myths and misconceptions
1. "Any organisation calling itself a college can recruit non-EEA students"
No. Since the introduction of Tier 4 of the Points Based System any college wishing to recruit non-EEA students must first be inspected and accredited by
an Education Oversight body approved by the UK Border Agency and only then can they apply to be included on the UK Border Agency's Register making their students eligible for visas.
2. "Once students obtain visas, no-one knows where they are and if they even register at universities or colleges"
No. Since the new system was introduced visas are tied to the institution which issued the Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Those institutions are then required to report to the UK Border Agency any
students who do not arrive and register. If they do not do so adequately, they can lose their license and no longer recruit non-EEA students.
3. "Once students have arrived and registered, they then don't turn up to study"
No. Institutions now have to monitor attendance and progress and report any students to the UK Border Agency who are not participating adequately. If they do not do so, they can lose their license and no longer accept non-EEA students.
4. "Students take housing and/or other UK state benefits"
No. A non-EEA student has, by law, 'no recourse to public funds' and therefore no entitlements to any housing or state benefits (apart from access to the NHS).
5. "Students often work rather than studying, taking permanent British jobs"
No. Non-EEA students have limited work entitlements, if any. Depending on the terms of the visa they may only work for 10 or 20 hours per week during term time and full time in holidays, or in some cases they may not work at all. They may not work for themselves or fill full-time permanent vacancies.
Until April 2012 a student who has completed a degree level course can apply to stay on for up to two years under the Tier 1 (Post Study Work) category. The scheme, actively encouraged by major UK employers, is seen as a way of enabling those with particular skills, who have invested considerable sums in UK education, to stay on and work for a temporary period.
6. "Students do not, as they should, go home after their studies have been completed"
No. Research released by the Home Office in September 2010 showed that of those who arrived as students in 2004, 79% had left the country by 2009. 6% were still studying – and the report says these were those on long courses such as medicine or those having taken a series of courses (such as 'A' levels followed by a degree). The balance (15%) had either, quite legally, married a UK citizen or moved into a work category.