The government intends to reduce annual net migration to the UK to "sustainable levels", in the tens of thousands a year. It "expects the student route to make its contribution towards reducing net migration to the UK".

Students now represent the largest proportion of net migration from outside Europe. According to the UKBA they "need to ensure that the number of international students coming to the UK is broadly in balance with the number leaving".

The government's policy aim is to ensure that only genuine students who are committed to their academic study come to the UK, with a presumption that upon completion they will leave promptly. This consultation sets out our proposals for achieving this aim.

You can download the consultation document and response form the UKBA website (bottom of the page).

You can respond online to the consultation at: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/student-consult-online (opens in a new window)

Survey close date: 31th January 2011