A CRACKDOWN on student visas could wipe millions from the local economy, a university chief fears.

The University of Huddersfield’s Professor David Taylor says that international students contributed around £30m to the Kirklees economy last year.

But he fears Government measures, designed to challenge bogus colleges which allow students an easy immigration route into the country, could impact on university admissions and funds.

The Home Office is considering a tougher English test to drive down what they call unchecked migration.

But for universities like Huddersfield, the test could mean fewer students studying for a degree and less income generated.

Huddersfield University saw admissions from foreign students rise by 55% in 2009.

Prof Taylor, dean of international development, said: “In trying to clamp down on spurious student immigration routes, the current government proposals would also do irreparable harm to our universities.

“Huddersfield University attracts over £15m a year in tuition fee income from international students annually and we estimate that they spend at least as much again in living here.

“With the cuts in public sector spending, this is an increasingly important source of income to the university and the local economy.”

Currently, the university runs non-degree preparation courses to ensure strong entry standards. Figures show that more than 95% of the students who sit the preparation courses go on to compete a three-year degree.

If the Home Office rules came into force, more students could be prevented from sitting the pre-entry courses, leading to a loss of income over four years. In 2009 the university welcomed 869 international students from 136 countries.

Tuition fees for UK-based undergraduate students are currently £3,375. Fees for international students vary from £8,700 to £11,750 for undergraduate courses.

Prof Taylor added: “There have been a lot of dubious practices around sub-degree and English language programmes at private colleges in the UK abusing visa-support privileges.

“It’s important that the government crack down on that, but that they do it in a way that does not harm our world class universities.

“We want students to come into university to develop their English before they begin their degree course. This gives us better control over entry standards, rather than having to rely on tests taken in their home country.

“Of course it is also a source of much needed additional tuition fee income.

“Insistence on such a high level of English would take away many international students from the university sector.

“Indeed it would immediately rule out all of our Saudi students, who mostly study a whole year of English with us before starting their degree course.”

And Prof Taylor said many of the students would go to competitors in Australia and the US, where the pre-entry courses exist.