New video aims to dispel ‘myths’ on visas

UK universities, the Home Office and the British Council are today launching a new film following Indian students on their journey to study in Britain in an attempt to dispel “myths” about the process.

Commissioned by the University of Sheffield, the video is available on YouTube and features two students, Arshi Aggarwal and Angesh Anupam, who successfully navigate the application and visa process.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said: “This is a great way of showing, to the many students around the world who want to study in the UK, how the process works and how it can become a reality.

“Prospective international students, and their parents, hear a lot of myths about the application process and the UK’s student visa system. Through these real life examples, they get a first-hand account of how the process actually works,” she added in a statement.

The coalition has tightened up the student visa process since it came to office in 2010, introducing tougher English language checks and ending international students’ automatic right to work for two years after graduation.

Earlier this month the immigration minister Mark Harper accused universities of creating a “self-fulfilling prophecy” by publicly warning of “bad news” for international students under the regime.

In 2011-12 there was a 24 per cent drop in the number of Indian students at UK universities, although this was offset by a large rise in the number from China. 

The video will be promoted on the Home Office and university websites.

david.matthews@tsleducation.com