To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of (a) the number of overseas students who had to withdraw from a course at a UK university due to delays in receiving their visa and (b) the number of overseas students who applied for university courses in the UK and subsequently applied for a student visa (i) successfully and (ii) unsuccessfully in the latest period for which figures are available. (169594)

The Department does not have any figures on the numbers of overseas students who have had to withdraw from courses through delays in receiving their visas. There is no reason why applications for visas which are made in good time and with the necessary supporting documentation would be delayed. UKVisas’ latest published statistics for the F/Y 2005/2006 indicate that a total of 284,447 student applications were received, of which 194,827 visas were issued and 88,897 applications refused. These figures do not distinguish between level of study and thus cover higher education, further education and language study.