11 February 2010 12:14 pm
Sri Lankan students will have to follow new measures when applying for a UK visa that is expected to come into effect by March this year, Spokesperson to the British High Commission Nadeesha Epasinghe told Daily Mirror online.
“These new measures are expected to come it to effect by March although it will not affect Sri Lankan students who are already visa holders,” Epasinghe said.
According to her students will be restricted in their working hours depending on the level of their educational program. Students studying on courses less than six months will not be allowed to bring dependants while students studying on courses below degree or foundation level will not be permitted to take employment in the UK unless they qualify in their own right in one of the many tiers, she added.
According to her these new regulations emphasize on student sponsors and university’s be accredited and licensed when bringing in International students. UK government will establish a "highly trusted sponsor program" that is expected to come into effect on 6 April, Epasinghe said. Only these highly trusted sponsors will be able to deliver a National Qualification Framework on courses and deliver work placement on courses below degree level, she added.
New measures for adult students will require an increased level of English language proficiency with the exceptions for overseas government-sponsored English language students and students on pre-sessional English language courses as preparation for full degree courses, she said.
Epasinghe said the current arrangements were made to encourage genuine students and prevent abuse by economic migrants enhancing the UK government’s commitment to crack down on potential abuse of the system.
These changes are part of a radical overhaul of the student system that began in March last year that required a licensed college to assure that students be able to support themselves before being granted a visa, Epasinghe said.