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Britain warned against extending visa charges
The government reportedly plans to triple the cost to extend the visas of students in courses in British universities.
Vice-chancellors of British universities have warned the government that raising visa extension charges for overseas students - including from India - will adversely affect their income.
Several British universities depend on the income from the high fees of overseas students to remain financially viable.
The government reportedly plans to triple the cost to extend the visas of students in courses in British universities.
Overseas students need to pay 155 pounds to extend their visas if they need to stay in the country to finish a course.
However, ministers are reported to be considering increasing the charge to 495 pounds.
The plan, which comes just days after Oxford University said it would increase its number of overseas students, was described by vice-chancellors as "a grave mistake" that would threaten the viability of some universities.
Universities UK, the higher education umbrella group, said it had written to the prime minister as well as Education Secretary Ruth Kelly, expressing its views "in the strongest terms".
A spokesman for the Home Office confirmed that a change in visa fees was being considered but said no decision had been taken.
"We are committed to encouraging migrants with the skills we need, including students, to the UK and we do not believe that these fees will act as a deterrent," he said.
"It is only right that those who use our services should meet the cost of delivering them."
But Universities UK said new fees would generate "substantial profits" and warned that such a move would stop foreign students coming to Britain, stripping institutions of much-needed funds.
Overseas students pay full fees of often eight times the amount British undergraduates are charged.
This income, vice-chancellors have repeatedly warned, is vital to the survival of British universities. Lady Warwick, the chief executive of Universities UK, said: "If the government introduced charges of this order, it would constitute a grave mistake."
