Students from outside the European Union are to be charged an extra £50 for a visa.

Hazel Blears, Communities Secretary, revealed the two year scheme will raise £70million to help fund more police support and translators across the country.

NUS National President Wes Streeting criticised the plans: “It is outrageous to suggest that international students should pay £50 more for their visa. Coupled with the inflation busting increase announced previously, this represents a hike of almost 50%.”

Critics feel the increase will not have much of an effect and if anything, could create anti-immigration tensions.

In addition contributing to public services through tax, international student’s increased fees will go towards local councils, police forces and health authorities. With each individual body deciding how the money will be used.

There are concerns from the Institute for Public Policy Research, that the proposals could lead to social unrest as unemployment figures continue to rise and job vacancies fall.

Wes Streeting said: “International students enrich our colleges and universities, as well as contributing more than £8.5 billion to the UK’s economy. It is in our interest to encourage more students from overseas to study at our universities, not put them off with punitive visa charges.”

The Local Authorities need £250 million extra every year in order for them to cope with related situations and problems, as well as to help integration.

Hazel Blears said: “Where there are impacts as a result of migrants coming in to the local community, we think it’s fair that the migrants themselves should be asked to pay a contribution towards those impacts.”

Ms Blears also acknowledges migrants have contributed to services through the taxes they pay, however feels that the increased cost of visas will provide extra money to “ease the transition” for areas that have witnessed a big influx in a short period of time.