higher education

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UK Government Now Wants MORE International Students

After coming in for criticism over harsher student visa restrictions and new measures that have made international students feel less welcome, the British government has unveiled plans to recruit almost 100,000 more overseas students over the next five years.

The plans were part of a new governmental strategy for international education, called International Education - Global Growth and Prosperity that was revealed on Monday. With the sole aim of encouraging students to study in the UK, the initial report said that it is ‘realistic' for overseas student numbers to grow by 15-20% in the next five years, meaning an extra 90,000 students by 2018.

The scheme comes in part as a reaction to the growing dissatisfaction amongst higher education experts at government actions that have been perceived as making international students feel unwelcome in the UK. Indeed, this year, the number of overseas applications for UK universities fell for the first time in 16 years.

Business secretary Vince Cable addressed this issue and emphasised how he hopes to prevent the downturn from becoming a trend:

"We have created an attractive environment and we should sell this in a positive way. We are anxious to reassure you we welcome overseas students and there is no cap on numbers."

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International Students to Start Paying for NHS?

The British government is considering charging non-EU students £200 a year for access to the NHS as part of radical new plans to cut costs for the health service.

The charge would be added to visa costs for any students staying in the UK for more than 6 months, and is just one of a number of proposals being put forward. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the BBC that the fee is in line with what other countries charge international students for healthcare, explaining:

"We have been clear that we are a national health service not an international health service and I am determined to wipe out abuse in the system."

The Department of Health claims that currently it costs the NHS £30m a year to treat foreigners in England. However, whilst this may sound like a lot, to put it in context, that is the equivalent of just two hours of NHS's annual spending.

Growing Opposition

Though the possibility of this scheme was only revealed this morning, a number of vocal opponents to any such changes have already emerged.

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Who Tops the 2014 UK University Rankings?

The Guardian released its annual university rankings yesterday, with Cambridge (above) taking the coveted top spot for the third year in a row. Alongside the overall university rankings, the newspaper uniquely also creates individual subject tables, allowing you to find the best universities for your chosen course- which you can search here.

Universities are measured on nine different criteria, including course satisfaction, teaching quality, staff-student ratio, the amount of money spent on each student, value-added and the percentage of graduates who have a job within 6 months of leaving.

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Government Rejects Appeal of NUS Campaign

In answer to a National Union of Students (NUS) campaign that fought for the rights of international students in the UK, the Home Office has replied with letters to all those who signed the petition. In response to claims that there are "overly harsh conditions on studying in the UK", the Home Office reply argues that "we have a great offer to attract the best international students".

'Give the Home Office the Yellow Card'

It all started in February this year, when the NUS began a campaign headed by International Students Officer Daniel Stevens that encouraged people to ‘Give the Home Office the Yellow Card'. The NUS argued that:

"It is clear that international students are being treated ever more increasingly as a political football... We are showing the Home Office the yellow card - and calling on them to improve their treatment of those students from across the world who choose to study here - in particular by calling on them to work with NUS, UUK and UKBA to establish a code of conduct setting out basic standards in working with international students."

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EU Students Owe £50m in Unpaid Tuition Fees

Figures have emerged that show EU students owe the UK government £50 million in unpaid tuition fees. In response, the Student Loans Company (SLC) have taken a hard line, hiring private investigators to track down graduates overseas who still owe money.

Students from Cyprus are the worst offenders, borrowing the most from the government in the last five years, and still owe £15m now.

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said:

"The overwhelming majority of overseas borrowers are honest and want to repay the loans they have received. However all borrowers need to know that they cannot evade their obligation to repay simply by moving overseas. We actively trace those in arrears and will obtain court orders in other jurisdictions to require repayment if necessary."

The majority of those who haven't paid what they owe have moved back abroad after their studies. Once graduates start earning a higher salary than the threshold, they should start repaying their tuition fee loans regardless of where in the world they are living. However, it is those who ignore this that the SLC are now trying to track down.

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