V. interesting stuff, thank you George (& Steve). I just edited a book about the future of HE (http://pearsonblueskies.com/) and one major theme was understanding that we need to get it right on our little island because there are some major global trends which will punish us if we don't (rising economies, demographics, technology).

Stuart, I note that your "endless research" somehow has not provided you with any citations to back up your claim that Scotland sends less to Westminster every year than the block grant. And you evidently think that demanding that other people "prove their statement" will cover your inability to prove yours.

Sanne: "Why would you expect Scotland to chip in and pay for the education of all those that would migrate to Scotland in order to avoid the fees policy imposed by Westminster?"

Because the English really haven't got a clue that Scotland is a different country, and we do things differently there.

Stuart: "I know quite well what I'm talking about I've done endless reserach on it"

But not enough research to know that Scotland sends more revenues to the Westminister treasury than we receive in the block grant?

Lou

This is not a new problem, when Labour first introduced fees the devolved Scottish government immediately said they would not be charging their students, nor European Union members students but they would be charging English and Welsh students. The Welsh Assembly then "found ways" to grant the cost of their sudents fees anywhere in the UK.

The "found ways" was an increase in the Barnett Formula from the UK tax payers the majority of which are English!

So then as now the English students ended up as theonly students within the United Kingdom paying fees!

Yonmei

Why don't you answer the question instead of evading it it with a trite phrase like "But not enough research to know that Scotland sends more revenues to the Westminister treasury than we receive in the block grant."

I merely asked you to prove it twice, so I will try again, prove your statement with facts!

This is a tricky situation. I can only tell of the real life situations I have encountered regarding foreign students.

Firstly, there are the many under 18's that come to learn english in the summer from the eu. Well that is not stopping- going on as before.
Then there are the non eu students. It is a shame to think that visa restrictions may mean they can not study here and bring their money to spend on accommodation in the local economy. But why? I have a friend who has had 6 out of 100's of non eu students that have stayed with her, overstay in england or go to scotland and work, basically as illegals. Great, bright people. The colleges were legitimate. There surely must be a way where legitimate colleges can keep an eye on visas and overstayers. Also, colleges must be vetted more closely, especially bogus internet ones etc.
Now, the lovely people that overstayed,(very friendly, nice people) are no doubt working hard and would love to be able to stay legitimately. But most are in catering jobs. The thing is, that we have to manage immigration numbers, so it may be tricky to allow all on the student visa route to stay as numbers could get huge.

A fellow foreign student on a uni phd engineering course, was offered a temporary job in a top company after paying 12,000 for her course, but was refused a visa.

So is the UK closed to foreign students, or can they stay if offered a full time vacancy of a high level job?

What is it we are faulting here? Too high uni fees for foreign students, meaning they go else where to study? That may be a problem.

But with some, it is the desire to work in the UK and stay here permanently, doing any job, that is the problem. Do we allow them to stay without question, because we want their initial uni or college fees so much and accommodation fees. It is tricky with UK youth and graduate employment being so high, to allow no restrictions on foreign students and turn a blind eye to overstayers and bogus colleges and marriages.

All the students I met, were great, bright english speaking young people wishing to get on. But they were not after a college course so much, as a permanent route in to the uk. If this is beneficial economically to the UK, maybe let more in, but numbers and the jobs market does need some regulation to safeguard those here already.

Yonmei

After your somewhat crude reference to me, I politely answered the comment, I had expected you to have come back to this thread with written confirmation of your assertion, still waiting!