Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of Universities UK has responded in an open letter to a national newspaper to claims that the organisation has issued a warning to the government about Britain's international reputation in higher education as a result of the student visa clamp-down.

Latest figures from the Home Office reveal that the government's restrictions on foreign students, as part of their commitment to reduce net migration, has reduced their numbers by 11,000.  The Home Office announced last month that, due to their “tough new rules and enforcement action to stop abuse of the student visa system”, more than 450 education providers will no longer be able to sponsor new international students.

Responding to the news, Ms Dandridge told The Guardian, “We’d like to make it clear that abuse of the immigration system has to be dealt with robustly, and we support the government's efforts in this respect. If a college is defrauding and abusing the system, it is quite right that their licences should be withdrawn or they be shut down.”

“Our concern lies in the way in which these issues are being presented”, she continues, “international students are much sought after across the world. They bring valuable cultural, diplomatic and economic benefit with them. They contribute £5bn to UK earnings each year, making a huge difference to local economies. The students come to the country and then leave, without recourse to public funds.”

Damien Green, Immigration Minister, argues that "too many institutions were offering international students an immigration service rather than an education and too many students have come to the UK with the aim of getting work and bringing over family members.”

"Only first-class education providers should be given licences to sponsor international students. We have curbed the opportunities to work during study and bring in family members."

But, Ms Dandridge claims that “Of those who stay, many end up teaching and carrying out world-leading research. In a deeply competitive and global market, international staff make up a large proportion of university staff, without whom many departments would not be viable, or at best would be significantly weakened.”

She has concerns about the Immigration Minister’s assertion that the changes to the student visa system were "beginning to bite".

“The government's recent measures to clamp down on net migration, and limit the right of genuine students and staff to come into the country to study and work in universities, is playing badly internationally,” she said.

“UK universities are losing top students and staff to other countries whose governments are more welcoming. Students from the Indian subcontinent in particular are choosing to go to other competitor countries, with some UK universities reporting drops of 30% or more.”

“Genuine students should not form part of the government's immigration targets. They are to be welcomed, not limited, and we should make sure that message is heard loud and clear, nationally and internationally.”