THE London School of Theology (LST) will be able to admit
significantly more international students next year after passed a
tougher inspection process, which was introduced by the Government
last year.
The Government announced that, from April this year, private
colleges wishing to sponsor "Tier 4 students" (those from outside
the EU) would need to be classified as a "Highly Trusted Sponsor",
and be accredited by a new inspection body, the Quality Assurance
Agency for Higher Education (QAA) (
News, 14 October).
As a result of the changes, for the academic year 2011-12, LST
had to limit the number of "Tier 4 students" that it admitted to
29, because it had not yet been accredited by the QAA. Last week,
after a successful review by the QAA, the restriction was lifted by
the UK Border Agency. The college hopes to admit more than 50 "Tier
4" students for the academic year 2012-2013.
International Christian College (ICC), in Glasgow, has also
passed the QAA review, meaning that its restriction on admitting
students from outside the EU has been lifted. The Principal of ICC,
the Revd Richard Tiplady, said: "Insights from the worldwide Church
enrich the experience of all our students, and we look forward to
re-establishing a truly international student community at
ICC."
But Bible colleges are unhappy that their international students
are not allowed to work part-time while studying, or bring their
families with them to the UK, as they would be at publicly funded
universities.
The Dean of Nazarene Theological College, Dr Peter Rae, said
that the rules discouraged "Ph.D. students from coming here
full-time, as facing three or four years away from family is not an
attractive prospect".