DAMAGING "rhetoric" on immigration is hindering Scots universities and businesses attracting people to work and study, according to the First Minister.

Nicola Sturgeon told an audience of business leaders and academics that changes to visa policies and certain language is affecting the Scottish tradition of welcoming people from other countries and Scots travelling abroad.

She told the National Economic Forum she accepted Scotland was not going to have full powers over immigration policy, but that her government would press for a greater role in the decision making process at a UK level.

She said: "We have a situation where immigration policies, particularly in relation to post-study work visas and changes that have been made around that, through to what I think is often really damaging and pejorative rhetoric around immigration that is damaging our ability to attract people here," she said.

"We have got a long and very well understood tradition of attracting some of the best people from around the world to come and study here, settle here and live here - as well as sending some of our best people to other parts of the world.

"But we, unfortunately, don't have control over immigration policy or visa policy, but we do make very strong representations to the UK Government around these issues, sometimes with greater success than others."

She was told by the principal of Edinburgh University, Tim O'Shea, that immigration was making it problematic for students to obtain post study work visas to allow them to remain in Scotland.

Mr O'Shea said 41% of his university's students are from outside the UK and many have to return home instead of being allowed to stay and contribute to the economy

Ms Sturgeon said she would continue to argue for more powers on immigration after its bid to have post study work visas devolved was turned down by the Smith Commission.

Instead it recommended inter-governmental collaboration in future to allow MSPs to make direct appeals to UK immigration authorities on behalf of their constituents.

She added: "I accept that complete unfettered control over immigration is probably something that is not possible, but I don't see why we couldn't have the ability to flex immigration policies in certain areas where that is in our interests.

"So, we will continue to work with universities and others to make the case to the UK Government that some of these policies are wrong-headed and making our task more difficult."