Over 2,000 foreign students to be booted out of Britain

Moving on ... uni can no longer approve visas

MORE than 2,000 students could be booted out of Britain after a university was banned from admitting foreigners by the Government.

London Metropolitan University will no longer be able to authorise visas after having its Highly Trusted Status (HTS) for sponsoring international students revoked.
The move could mean over 2,000 students being deported within 60 days unless they find another sponsor, according to the National Union of Students (NUS).
Universities Minister David Willetts last night announced the formation of a task force to help overseas students affected by the decision.
He said: “It is important that genuine students who are affected through no fault of their own are offered prompt advice and help, including, if necessary, with finding other institutions at which to finish their studies."
London Metropolitan University’s HTS status was suspended last month while the UK Border Agency examined alleged failings.
A statement on the university’s website last night said: “The implications of the revocation are hugely significant and far-reaching, and the university has already started to deal with these. It will be working very closely with the UKBA, Higher Education Funding Council for England, the NUS and its own Students’ Union.
“Our absolute priority is to our students, both current and prospective, and the University will meet all its obligations to them.”
NUS president Liam Burns said: “It is disgusting that international students continue to be used as a political football by politicians who seem either incapable of understanding, or are simply uncaring about the impact of their decisions on individuals, universities and the UK economy.
“This decision will create panic and potential heartbreak for students not just at London Met but also all around the country.
A UKBA spokesman said: “London Metropolitan University’s licence to sponsor non-EU students has been revoked after it failed to address serious and systemic failings that were identified by the UK Border Agency six months ago.
“We have been working with them since then, but the latest audit revealed problems with 61 per cent of files randomly sampled. Allowing London Metropolitan University to continue to sponsor and teach international students was not an option.
“These are problems with one university, not the whole sector. British universities are among the best in the world - and Britain remains a top class destination for top class international students.
“We are doing everything possible, working with Universities UK, to assist genuine students that have been affected.”