Current location:health >>
A third of foreign students seeking to stay in the UK are at just SIX institutions, figures show
health4People 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.'
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Culture Curve news portal”。http://papuanewguinea.prpsystems.net/content-50d998982.html
Related articles
Kevin Pillar gets 1,000th career hit in Angels' win at Texas
healthARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kevin Pillar tucked a keepsake ball into his bag from his 1,000th career hit ...
【health】
Read moreCall it Cognac diplomacy. France offered China’s Xi a special drink, in a wink at their trade spat
healthPARIS (AP) — How do you smooth over trade tensions with the all-powerful leader of economic powerhou ...
【health】
Read moreDanish King Frederik and his Australian
healthCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark’s King Frederik X arrived in Stockholm on Monday with his Austral ...
【health】
Read more
Popular articles
- Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo
- Who is youngest
- Arsenal needs a favor from Tottenham in the title race. Current form suggests it won't happen
- Danish King Frederik and his Australian
- Independent UN experts urge Yemen’s Houthis to free detained Baha'i followers
- WNBA expansion franchise Golden State hires Ohemaa Nyanin as its general manager
Latest articles
Mohammad Mokhber: Who is Iran’s acting president?
Former Starbucks CEO Schultz says company needs to refocus on coffee as sales struggle
Outrage as pro
Stars and DeBoer moving on after ousting Cup champ Vegas in tight 7
Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
Robinhood Markets receives SEC notice for alleged securities violations at crypto unit
LINKS
- Highlights of Xi Jinping's Visit to Vietnam
- China, France hold strategic dialogue
- China hands over donated COVID
- NYC paints Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower
- Philippines, China cooperate to crack down on illegal offshore gambling
- Philippines, China cooperate to crack down on illegal offshore gambling
- Former CDC directors: U.S. politicians undermine CDC unconscionably
- Japan's campaign to revive domestic tourism sparks controversy
- Dutch PM meets with Spanish counterpart in the Netherlands
- China, Thailand enter 'visa