A surprising rise in bookings during the first quarter of this year, positive news about the extended student visitor visa, and a stronger performance than expected in 2011 all contributed to a cautiously positive atmosphere at the English UK conference.

More than 330 agents have already booked to attend this year's StudyWorld London, making the 2012 event the fastest-selling ever.

The Government have today announced its plans to extend pre entry tuberculosis (TB) screening to an additional 67 countries identified as having 'high incidence' of TB by the World Health Organisation.

This year's ELTons, organised by the British Council, will be available for live-streaming on Wednesday 23 May. Find out how you can watch the ceremony and the 'red carpet' interviews as guests arrive.

The issue of whether or not students should be counted as migrants in official figures has been raised in an influential Parliamentary committee. The Public Accounts Committee was taking evidence on a National Audit Office report into student immigration, which was highly critical of some of the ways in which Tier 4 was implemented.