In an interview published Friday, Harper said his was the first government to tackle abuse of the student route, and that too many institutions had “sold immigration not education” under the previous government.

“More university students are coming here and bogus students are being kept out”

“We are not harming genuine students – latest student visa and UCAS application figures show that our changes are having the right effect,” he said. “More university students are coming here and bogus students are being kept out. There is no limit on the number of students who can come to the UK.”

A raft of curbs on student visas have been introduced since the Coalition took power, including the rollout of border interviews of “high risk” students, and the removal of the post-study work visa which gave students a year to seek work after graduation. Currently students may work but only if they find a job earning over £20,000 before they graduate.

While there is evidence of student visa abuse, many say the reforms go too far and deter genuine foreign students. Some claim they are also being used as a “shortcut” to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands by 2015. According to the Office of National Statistics, around 20% fewer Tier 4 study visas were issued in 2012 – mostly to South Asians – although the extent to which this affects universities as opposed to private providers is yet to be revealed.

Many say the reforms are being used as a “shortcut” to reduce net migration

Asked about the 23.5% fall in Indian undergraduate enrolments in 2012, Harper pointed to a 19% rise in UCAS applications in January and suggested demand remained strong.

He reiterated that there had been a small increase (1%) in the total number of sponsored student visa applications for the university sector in the year to September 2012, while saying some 500 private colleges and language schools lost their right to recruit outside the EU (although sources have told the PIE that some merely chose not reapply for HTS to avoid the anticipated cost and hassle).

He also implied a 12% rise on short term study visitor visas would mitigate this in part, although the route will continue to be monitored to ensure it is not being abused.

In all, Harper said the university sector had not been damaged by the reforms. “The 9.6% increase in non-EEA university student applications in the latest January UCAS figures is further proof that the UK remains open to the brightest and the best international students.

“This shows that, despite stories to the contrary, students continue to want to come to the UK to study at our world class universities.”

A Home Office pilot study last year found almost 32% of students from “high risk” countries lacked legitimacy when interviewed by border officials. However, only 2,300 applicants were analysed, a proportion some argue was too small.