The head of the UK¡¯s only Orthodox Christian higher education institution has called attention to ¡°a major incoherence in government policy that threatens the future of all ministerial education colleges¡±.

David Frost is principal and administrator of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, based in Cambridge and part of the Cambridge Theological Federation. In a letter published in this week¡¯s Times Higher Education, he points to the disastrous ¨C yet little-noticed ¨C?impact of the current visa regime on institutions such as his.

Given the demographics of Orthodox Christianity, Professor Frost explained, his institute has ¡°always been stronger on international students than local [ones]¡±. This used to amount to ¡°a steady stream¡±, mainly from Russia, Eastern Europe and the US, but the flow was significantly reduced following increases in fees for international students. It is only distance-learning certificates and diplomas that have enabled the institute to ¡°keep our head above water¡±.

To secure its long-term future, the institute ¨C and many other colleges which specialise in training for the ministry ¨C?have worked together to attract international students on to common BA, MA and doctoral awards in the subject.

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But this plan is now being scuppered, said Professor Frost, because of delays in gaining a visa licence from the government. Although the Cambridge Theological Federation has ¡°close links¡± with the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge, it is not formally part of the university and needs its own visa-granting powers.

In general, said Professor Frost, the institute would expect the international students it recruited ¡°to return home afterwards and not add to the migration figures in any significant way¡±.

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¡°There is no reason why we shouldn¡¯t be able to get visas for reliable students,¡± he said.

¡°We would like a coherent policy for assessing and giving decisions on which bodies are to be trusted to give visa decisions. We¡¯ve been waiting for a year.¡± ?

Should this impasse not be resolved rapidly, added Professor Frost, ¡°it is likely this will bring us down, as we are unlikely to get the students we need to survive¡±.

A É«ºÐÖ±²¥ Office spokesman said it did not comment on applications submitted by potential visa sponsors.

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matthew.reisz@tesglobal.com