14.09.12
London Met students fund created amid deportation fears
The Government has created a £2m fund for London Metropolitan students who have been left without visas, after the university’s licence was revoked.
Around 2,600 students have been affected by the move, which came after the UK Border Agency reported people using the visas to come to the UK, but failing to attend courses.
The fund will pay for alternative accommodation, new course fees and fresh visa applications for the students, who have travelled from outside the EU.
The UKBA will write to affected students at the start of October, to warn them they have 60 days to find a new course and visa, or face deportation.
Professor Eric Thomas, president of Universities UK, publicly criticised the handling of the situation. He said: “I would argue that we all have been found wanting in our duties to these students.”
Universities minister David Willetts said a clearing-style system would be established on Monday to help match students with spare courses at other universities.
He said the fund would “help legitimate overseas students at London Met who face extra costs through no fault of their own as a result of transferring to another institution”.
“This will provide certainty to London Met students at what is a stressful and unsettling time,” Willets added.
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