The United Kingdom is set to implement a new immigration policy that will see foreign students leave the country after completion of their studies, Daily Mail reports.

Foreign students are to be banned from working in Britain under a fresh crackdown on immigration ordered by Home Secretary Theresa May.

Ministers say the new rules, which will apply to all those from outside the European Union, will stop colleges being used as a 'back door to a British work visa'.

Under the new rules, non-EU students will be denied the right to work while in the UK and will not be able to apply for a visa extension when their course finishes.

Students will have to leave the country before applying to return under a work visa.

The length of stay is also expected to be cut to two years when the plans are unveiled this week.

signalled on Friday that the govermment would stop the education system being abused by immigrants.

'What we need to make sure – and we do have this – is that our immigration system allows those from abroad that want to come to Britain to study in our world-class universities, our fantastic colleges to come here,' Business Secretary Sajid Javid says.

'So we've got to break the link and make sure it's focused on people who want to study and then, once they've had their studies and completed that, then they leave.'

But universities have warned that any clampdown could damage the sector and business leaders are also wary of the move, warning it could rob Britain of vital skills.