To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many academic institutions have successfully registered as sponsors with the UK Border Agency under tier 4 of the points-based immigration system; and how many such institutions made applications to register which were rejected. (271294)

[holding answer 27 April 2009]: There are at present just less than 1,600 educational establishments on the register of sponsors under tier 4 of the points-based system.

Over 500 applications for sponsorship have been unsuccessful, including those applications rejected, refused and withdrawn, of which around 30 were from organisations identifying themselves as universities or educational establishments.

Figures provided have been rounded to the nearest five.

The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.