The CentreForum think tank says enrolment numbers are estimated to have dropped by around 70 percent
The CentreForum think tank is calling for the reversal of student visa controls which prohibit international students enrolled on HE courses at private colleges from working part time to support their studies.
A recent CentreForum report says that since these controls were introduced in 2011, enrolment numbers are estimated to have dropped by around 70 percent. One private institution, Cavendish College London, has already closed, while others face being taken over by public universities.
CentreForum had previously warned government about the adverse impact of the Tier 4 student visa reforms. It says it is now concerned that the impact has been "swift and probably even more devastating than was predicted."
Download the full CentreForum report.
Meanwhile, UCAS reported in January that university application figures up to the January 15th deadline showed that there had been an increase in applicants from outside the EU of 13.7% compared to the previous year.