With the London Metropolitan University's (LMU) license being revoked, the United Kingdom (UK) has set up a taskforce to help students from India and other countries affected by the decision. Moreover, a fund of £2 million has also been established to help legitimate overseas students at LMU in bearing extra costs while finding another institution.
Recently, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) had revoked sponsor license of LMU on grounds of 'systematic failures', impacting over 2,000 students from several countries including India.
"A taskforce has been set up in the UK to assist genuine students that have been affected by this decision to revoke London Metropolitan University’s sponsor licence. The taskforce comprises the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Universities UK, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the UK Border Agency and the National Union of Students (NUS). This is working with London Metropolitan University to support genuine students to find another education provider with whom to continue their studies," said a UKBA spokesperson in reply to an emailed query.
The revocation comes at a time when most institutions in the UK have completed their September intake. However, the UKBA insisted that genuine students need not take any immediate action.
"A fund of £2 million has also been established to help legitimate overseas students at London Met who face extra costs as a result of transferring to another institution. Genuine students currently studying at London Met do not need to take any immediate action. The UK Border Agency will write to them after 1 October. They will then have 60 days to make a new student application for study at another education institution, or to arrange to leave the UK. The 60 days will start from the date the UK Border Agency contacts the student," the spokesperson added.
Revocation of a sponsor's licence may be for a number of reasons including concerns an education provider not fulfilling its sponsorship responsibilities in connection with its recruitment of international students. Since 2010, the UK Border Agency has revoked the licences of over 500 Tier 4 education sponsors, of which only one has been for a university - LMU.
"The problems and this decision affect only one university, London Metropolitan University, not the whole sector. No other university currently has its licence to bring in international (non-EU) students suspended or revoked. Britain welcomes all legitimate international students wishing to benefit from the high quality education provided in the UK. There is no cap on their numbers," the agency further stated.
UK has four of the world's top 10 universities, with nearly 430,000 international students from non-EU counties – making up 14 per cent of the UK student population, which includes over 30,000 Indian students.