Indian students still applying for UK visas in droves despite tougher rules

December 15 2009 by Liam Clifford

Indian students are still keen to study in the UK despite the tougher new UK visa rules.

The controversial new UK visa points based system was introduced in an attempt to prevent people from fraudulently entering the UK – using false details and courses to gain the right to live in the UK.

However, Bharati Bacha, the assistant director for India at Middlesex University, reassures students who want to gain qualifications in the UK. He says, “genuine students have no cause for concern, as their main aim is to get a good international education along with good international work experience before returning to their home countries, to put to use what they have learned."

Bacha continues to explain how students can also stay on to work in the UK after their studies: "after the successful completion of the course, students are eligible to apply for permission to work under tier-1. Under this scheme students may apply to work in the UK for up to two years."

Bacha has spoken out in response to reports that UK immigration officials working in India have been misinterpreting the new rules and refusing genuine students’ applications. In fact, 10 per cent of applicants were reportedly awarded their student UK visa the second time they applied, after being rejected the first time.

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