Hundreds of BD students to be deported from UK
Saturday, 1 September 2012
FE Report
Hundred of Bangladeshi students are going to face deportation from the UK after the British government revoked a university's right to admit foreigners, sources from London said.
The London Metropolitan University (LMU), where hundreds of Bangladeshi students are currently studying with the UK student visa, has lost its right to sponsor international students from outside Europe.
Now those students are facing deportation by the UK Border Agency (UKBA), as the university is no longer able to enroll international students, sources said.
The ruling came after the UKBA officials last month examined alleged failings of the university, having Highly Trusted Status (HTS) for sponsoring international students. It could mean that students will be deported within 60 days unless they can find another sponsor.
Though the students have an option to be admitted to other UK universities, but it will be absolutely difficult for them. Because they will not be able to bear additional tuition fees, a student form the LMU told the FE.
Along with Bangladeshi students, 2,000 other students form different countries are also facing the same condition in the UK after the British government annulled a university's right to admit and sponsor the non-European students.
A statement posted on the LMU website Wednesday said the implications of the revocation are very significant and far-reaching. The university has already started dealing with the issue, and the students are its priority.
"It will be working very closely with the UKBA, the Higher Education Funding Council, the National Union of Students (NUS) and its own students' union."
The NUS Thursday contacted British Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May to 'express anger at the way the decisions have been made in the recent weeks and to reiterate the potentially catastrophic effects on higher education - a £12.5 billion per year export industry for the UK.'
NUS president Liam Burns said it is disgusting that the international students continue to be used as a 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 among students, not just at the LMU, but also all around the country," he said.
Ashiqur Rahman, one of the Bangladeshi students, told the BBC in London that he is a third year student at the LMU, doing a bachelor degree on computer science.
"I have one semester (term) to go. I have already spent £25,000 as tuition fees, which cover the whole course, not to mention the living expenses. I contacted with a few other universities regarding the possibility to transfer there. But they told me that I could do it in my second year, but not in the third year."
"That means I have to spend extra money now and unnecessarily prolong the duration of my studies. This is a complete waste of my time and money. I don't know whether or not I can afford to pay so much extra money. My father is getting retired, and he is the one who has been paying for my education."
He said he had admission offers from some other universities of Australia and Canada, but he chose one of the British universities because they are the most valued in the world.
"I think the Home Office should reconsider the decision. They should let the current students finish their degrees, and apply the rule only to the new students," Ashiqur added.
Hundred of Bangladeshi students are going to face deportation from the UK after the British government revoked a university's right to admit foreigners, sources from London said.
The London Metropolitan University (LMU), where hundreds of Bangladeshi students are currently studying with the UK student visa, has lost its right to sponsor international students from outside Europe.
Now those students are facing deportation by the UK Border Agency (UKBA), as the university is no longer able to enroll international students, sources said.
The ruling came after the UKBA officials last month examined alleged failings of the university, having Highly Trusted Status (HTS) for sponsoring international students. It could mean that students will be deported within 60 days unless they can find another sponsor.
Though the students have an option to be admitted to other UK universities, but it will be absolutely difficult for them. Because they will not be able to bear additional tuition fees, a student form the LMU told the FE.
Along with Bangladeshi students, 2,000 other students form different countries are also facing the same condition in the UK after the British government annulled a university's right to admit and sponsor the non-European students.
A statement posted on the LMU website Wednesday said the implications of the revocation are very significant and far-reaching. The university has already started dealing with the issue, and the students are its priority.
"It will be working very closely with the UKBA, the Higher Education Funding Council, the National Union of Students (NUS) and its own students' union."
The NUS Thursday contacted British Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May to 'express anger at the way the decisions have been made in the recent weeks and to reiterate the potentially catastrophic effects on higher education - a £12.5 billion per year export industry for the UK.'
NUS president Liam Burns said it is disgusting that the international students continue to be used as a 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 among students, not just at the LMU, but also all around the country," he said.
Ashiqur Rahman, one of the Bangladeshi students, told the BBC in London that he is a third year student at the LMU, doing a bachelor degree on computer science.
"I have one semester (term) to go. I have already spent £25,000 as tuition fees, which cover the whole course, not to mention the living expenses. I contacted with a few other universities regarding the possibility to transfer there. But they told me that I could do it in my second year, but not in the third year."
"That means I have to spend extra money now and unnecessarily prolong the duration of my studies. This is a complete waste of my time and money. I don't know whether or not I can afford to pay so much extra money. My father is getting retired, and he is the one who has been paying for my education."
He said he had admission offers from some other universities of Australia and Canada, but he chose one of the British universities because they are the most valued in the world.
"I think the Home Office should reconsider the decision. They should let the current students finish their degrees, and apply the rule only to the new students," Ashiqur added.