News from UK Border Agency:

The deadline is fast approaching for universities, colleges and schools who want to sponsor international students when the student tier of Britain’s tough new points system goes live, the UK Border Agency warned today.

The points-based system was created to manage the number of people coming here to work and study in the best interests of the United Kingdom. The introduction of the student tier, Tier 4 will complete the rollout of the points-based system.

If education institutions want to bring in international students when Tier 4 starts at the end of March they must apply by 2 February. So far more than 800 universities, colleges and schools have signed up.

Institutions who do not apply before the deadline will not be able to sponsor students from the go-live date in March.