7 December 2010 Last updated at 10:41 ET

Student work search visa to be scrapped under plans

By Katherine Sellgren
BBC News education reporter

Tougher rules are aimed at cutting net migration from 200,000 to under 100,000 by 2015

Students from outside the European Union will be forced to go home after completing courses under plans to scrap visas which allow them to seek work.

The controversial post-study work route will be abolished and only "trusted" sponsors will be able to offer courses below degree level to adults.

And measures to ensure students return home following their studies will be introduced under the Home Office plans.

The proposals are part of a crackdown on abuses of the student visa system.

The majority of migrants from outside the UK are students - last year they accounted for two thirds of the visas issued under the points-based system.

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We must be more selective about who can come hereâ€