Overseas students will breathe a sigh of relief at the news that the UK government has no plans to restrict non-EU student numbers in the latest higher education reforms.

Universities minister, David Willetts, made clear in his speech to the House of Commons yesterday, unveiling the Higher Education White Paper, that there will continue to be no cap on the numbers of overseas students permitted to study at UK higher education institutions.

Following the tighter student visa controls imposed by the Home Office earlier this year, it was feared that the higher education reforms may contain restrictions on student numbers from outside the EU.

From April 2012 all institutions wanting to sponsor students were required to be classed as 'highly trusted sponsors' and become accredited by statutory education inspection bodies. Those coming to study at degree level are required to speak a higher level of English and UK Border Agency staff will have the right to refuse entry to students who cannot speak English without an interpreter and who therefore do not meet the required standards.

In a response to a question in the House by Gareth Thomas, Labour’s shadow universities spokesman, Mr Willetts said, “Let me make it absolutely clear that there are no number controls on overseas students. We continue to welcome to this country overseas students who have the ability to benefit from studying at our universities.”

There followed a heated exchange with, former Education Secretary, David Blunkett, who pressed Mr Willetts for more detail. Mr Blunkett referred to the student visa changes, describing them “shambolic” and claimed that they were “discouraging students from across the world from coming to Britain ... How can the Minister come here this afternoon and say that we want to be the best in the world while discouraging the best in the world from coming to Britain?”

Mr Willetts responded, “The changes in the visa regime were very carefully worked out by the Home Office and BIS (Department for Business Innovation and Skills) working together, and they tackle the problem of bogus colleges and students who wish to come to a university but do not have the academic qualifications that would enable them to benefit from a university course.”

Mr Willetts went on to confirm that “The changes absolutely keep open, however, the opportunity for legitimate students who have achieved the necessary academic standards to come to this country, with no quota or limits on the number that should be able to do so.”