Current location:Cultural Caravan news portal > world
A third of foreign students seeking to stay in the UK are at just SIX institutions, figures show
Cultural Caravan news portal2024-05-21 16:32:34【world】3People have gathered around
IntroductionMore than a third of foreign students who went on to claim asylum in Britain were sponsored to come
More than a third of foreign students who went on to claim asylum in Britain were sponsored to come here by just six educational institutions.
The leaked figures come amid widespread concern that higher education is being abused as an immigration route.
The statistics from a secret Home Office database, covering the 12 months to March 2023, show 6,136 asylum cases were lodged by foreign students, more than a four-fold surge on the previous year.
Of those, 2,195 were sponsored by five universities and an education agency.
Study Group UK sponsored visas for 804 foreign students who later claimed asylum. The company's total was skewed towards two nationalities: 642 asylum claims from Bangladeshis and 156 from Pakistanis.
The statistics from a secret Home Office database, covering the 12 months to March 2023, show 6,136 asylum cases were lodged by foreign students, more than a four-fold surge on the previous year
The second-highest number of student visa-holders who claimed asylum in the year were sponsored by Portsmouth University (pictured), with 395
Third was De Montfort University (pictured) with 310 student visa-holders who claimed asylum in the year
Study Group's website describes it as a 'leading international education specialist and a trusted strategic partner to more than 50 universities around the world'.
EXCLUSIVEREAD MORE: Tens of thousands of foreign nationals are 'exploiting a hidden asylum loophole' to stay in the UK permanently, documents reveal
AdvertisementThe firm – along with individual universities – is licensed to sponsor foreign visa applicants by a Home Office agency, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
The second-highest number of student visa-holders who claimed asylum in the year were sponsored by Portsmouth University, with 395.
Its claims included 252 Bangladeshis, 54 from Afghans, 38 from Cameroonians and 28 from Pakistanis.
Third was De Montfort University with 310, followed by the University of Hertfordshire with 275, Coventry University with 217 and the University for the Creative Arts with 194.
Former home secretary Suella Braverman is among those who have previously criticised the higher education sector's role in bringing vast numbers of foreign students to Britain.
'Too many universities are selling immigration, not education,' she said in January.
In December Home Secretary James Cleverly announced a review of the 'graduate visa' which allows students who have completed their courses to work in Britain for up to two years.
Fourth was the University of Hertfordshire (pictured) with 275 student visa-holders who claimed asylum in the year
Fifth was Coventry University (pictured) with student visa-holders who claimed asylum in the year
In December Home Secretary James Cleverly (pictured on Wednesday) announced a review of the 'graduate visa' which allows students who have completed their courses to work in Britain for up to two years
An official review was only launched three months later and its results are awaited.
Latest Home Office data shows there were 457,673 sponsored study visas granted to main applicants last year. This is five per cent fewer than in 2022 but 70 per cent up on 2019 prior to the Covid pandemic.
However the graduate route allowed 114,409 foreign students to extend their stay in Britain by two years after completing a course, up 57 per cent year-on-year.
READ MORE: Immigration chiefs warn universities after THOUSANDS of foreign students claim asylum within months of arriving in Britain
AdvertisementA University of Portsmouth spokesman said: 'This issue is a result of the Government's asylum policy, which allows visa switching in a way that is outside the direct control of the universities concerned and is not a failing of the higher education sector.
'The visa system and rules should not permit individuals approved to study with a study visa to legally switch to claim asylum.' He added the university has taken steps and worked with UKVI on the issue.
A Study Group spokesman said: 'As a UKVI licence-holder with a track record of compliance to sponsor international students, we take our duties extremely seriously.
'We immediately flag immigration concerns regarding any students who may seem non-genuine.'
A spokesman for the higher education body Universities UK International said: 'To recruit international students, universities must meet very high standards set by government.
'Adherence to these standards is continuously monitored by UKVI and compliance is exceptionally high.
'Our universities take visa compliance very seriously and, working with the Home Office and UKVI, take all possible steps to minimise the potential for abuse.'
Address of this article:http://brunei.tom-paine.com/article-38c799216.html
Very good!(754)
Related articles
- What's next for Iran after death of its president in crash?
- Two boys, 12, stabbed teenager, 19, to death in park machete attack after victim 'shoulder
- Now Cambridge University is forced to move graduation ceremonies after pro
- For the children of Gaza, war means no school — and no indication when formal learning might return
- Biden says Brown v. Board of Education ruling was about more than education
- Protests are planned in Serbia against a real estate project financed by Trump's son
- Megalopolis review: Sadly, this may be the great Francis Ford Coppola's Mega
- Terrifying moment knife
- Justin Timberlake set to bring his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour to Australia in 2025
- Houston storms: At least 4 killed, power cut in 900,000 homes
Popular articles
Recommended
The Latest
Venezuela's barred opposition candidate is now the fiery surrogate of her lesser
Georgia Republican files for divorce from glamorous oncologist after seven children
Revealed: Reservoir 'at heart of' Devon crisis that's left 40,000 homes with undrinkable water
Fresh heartache for cancer
Global obesity deaths rise by 50 percent since 2000, major report shows
Timberwolves force Game 7 by blowing out Nuggets 115
Federal agency takes control of investigation of fiery train derailment in New Mexico
Links
- World Insights: Bringing China
- Chinese men's team claims 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships title
- Handicrafts Training Held in Tongjiang to Help Increase Women's Incomes
- Departments, Organizations Care for Children
- Chinese yuan strengthens to 7.0947 against USD Monday
- Interview: China's new quality productive forces bring new opportunities for foreign investors
- Promoting Children's Healthy Growth
- Subsidies not reason for Chinese EVs competitive advantage: minister
- Procuratorate, Federation Protect Rural Women's Land Rights
- China's legislature, judiciary vow high