The current rules on international student visas will dissuade students from applying to study in Scotland, education secretary Michael Russell has said.

Mr Russell said that his view was shared by Scotland’s universities and NUS Scotland.

“Each of us has forcefully made this point to the UK government ... but still there is no sign of the policy being changed,” he said.

Mr Russell was responding to comments by UK business secretary Vince Cable, in which he said that the Home Office was not treating the university sector, keen to recruit foreign students and staff, “with proper respect”.

Mr Russell said that the international students and researchers at Scotland’s world-leading universities were a “crucial part of the life of our universities, making a significant cultural, economic and intellectual contribution to our nation”.