Student visas are to be reviewed after a surge in numbers raised fears the new points-based application system is providing a back door to Britain for bogus pupils. Skip related content

RELATED PHOTOS / VIDEOS
Fears Student Visas Provide Back Door To UK
Play video
Fears Student Visas Provide Back Door To UK Play video Fears Student Visas Provide Back Door To UK Enlarge photo
RELATED CONTENT
Video: Fears Student Visas Provide Back Door To UK
In the 12 months since the new scheme was introduced, the number of students coming to the UK from non-EU countries jumped by more than 75,000.

Home Office figures showed that 313,011 non-EU students were granted visas, bringing with them 31,385 dependants.

Immigration minister Damian Green said a "thorough evaluation" of the system would be conducted over the coming months in order to minimise abuse.

Mr Green said: "We are committed to attracting the brightest and the best to the UK, and welcome legitimate students coming here for study.

"However, in the past there has been significant abuse of the student route, and we need to ensure that every student who comes to the UK is genuine.

"Therefore I am undertaking a thorough evaluation of the student system over the coming weeks and months and I will introduce new measures to minimise abuse and tighten the system further."

A Home Office spokesman said no details were yet available of the scope and remit of the review.

Visas for students from Pakistan and Nepal were suspended earlier this year after an unusually large rise in applications from the countries.