Official sources said the new system, known as Tier 4, will be more transparent and easily understood and will simplify the existing immigration rules for genuine students and education providers.

The new student visa system under the Points Based System (PBS) will require colleges and universities to report about the international students who fail to attend courses after gaining student visas, they said.

They said one of the key benefits would be that students will be able to work out whether they have sufficient points to qualify before they make a visa application.

Under the new rules, universities and colleges will be required to take greater responsibility for their international students by, for example, reporting students who fail to attend courses after gaining student visas.

As per the new rules, universities and colleges will need to obtain a special license if they wish to recruit students from overseas.

These arrangements, the sources said, will protect students from bogus colleges who attempt to abuse the system and exploit students.

Any education providers who fail to follow the new rules risk a ban on recruiting international students in the future and bogus colleges will be shut down.

Under the new rules, students will need to be sponsored by a licensed education institution and obtain an identity card in advance, have a good academic track record and demonstrate they can financially support themselves and any dependants.

The students will also need to apply for a course that leads to an approved level of qualification.

Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said the government will “not tolerate the minority of individuals who seek to damage the quality of our education system through bogus colleges.” “I welcome the education sectors’ involvement in developing a structure that allows international students to benefit from the excellent educational experience the UK offers, while giving them the opportunity to work in the UK for two years following graduation,” he said.

“This is why we have introduced tighter checks to the current Register of Education and Training Providers. The new system will toughen this process further and give extra protection from the damage bogus colleges can cause.” The number of visas issued to Indian students is increasing year on year. In 2007 almost 22,000 student visas were issued across India, representing a 10 per cent increase on 2006.

At the end of June, the Government also announced new opportunities for successful international graduates of British institutions to work in the UK for up to two years.

Under the new plans for students, applications can be made for one of two new student visas: General Student and Child Student.

The students will also need to apply for a course that leads to an approved level of qualification.

Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said the government will “not tolerate the minority of individuals who seek to damage the quality of our education system through bogus colleges.” “I welcome the education sectors’ involvement in developing a structure that allows international students to benefit from the excellent educational experience the UK offers, while giving them the opportunity to work in the UK for two years following graduation,” he said.

“This is why we have introduced tighter checks to the current Register of Education and Training Providers. The new system will toughen this process further and give extra protection from the damage bogus colleges can cause.” The number of visas issued to Indian students is increasing year on year. In 2007 almost 22,000 student visas were issued across India, representing a 10 per cent increase on 2006.

At the end of June, the Government also announced new opportunities for successful international graduates of British institutions to work in the UK for up to two years.