The changes, announced yesterday do not need legislative enactment to be put into force. According to the UK Border Agency, the new rules will apply to all applications for student visas that are made after Feb. 21, 2010.

One change will be the level of proficiency in the English language that an applicant will have to have in order to study in Britain. Currently, applicants for student visas need only speak and understand English at a beginner’s level. Later this month, applicants will have to show an intermediate level of proficiency that is the equivalent of just below GCSE levels.

Those foreign students who come to the UK to take below-degree level courses will only be allowed to work in Britain for 10 hours a week. This is a decrease from the current 20 allowable hours. These students will still be able to bring any dependants they have into the country with them but these dependants will no longer be able to work in Britain. And foreign students who wish to come to the UK to take courses that are less than six months in duration will no longer be able to bring any dependants with them.