SCOTLAND'S oldest university has backed calls for the UK Government ease visa restrictions on overseas students.

St Andrews University, in Fife, said ministers should reclassify international students as temporary visitors rather than treating them as migrants.

The call comes after a new report found widespread concerns about anti-immigration rhetoric surrounding international students, who are currently included in the Government's net migration target.

There are also fears the UK's higher education sector is losing out to other countries which are seen as more welcoming.

The report by the business lobby London First and the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) consultancy aims, for the first time, to quantify the economic costs and benefits of non-EU international students studying at the capital's universities to both London and the UK economy.

International students in London alone contribute net gains of £2.3bn a year towards the UK economy, yet many of them say Britain's immigration system has negatively affected their experience of studying here, according to the study. The vast majority also said they found it difficult to secure work in the UK after completing their studies.

St Andrews is Scotland's most international university with one third of its students from overseas. Overall, the university contributes over £484 million per year to the Scottish economy and supports over 8,900 full time jobs.

Dr Anne Mullen, vice-principal international at St Andrews, said: "St Andrews has always been and will remain a resolutely outward-looking institution and a global player; the economic contribution of our international students is welcome and significant for Scotland.

"In equal measure, our international students play a crucial role in ensuring we sustain and nurture a learning and social environment which is engaged with diversity, enabling our whole student population to grow as cross-culturally sensitive global citizens."