Current location:opinions >>
A third of foreign students seeking to stay in the UK are at just SIX institutions, figures show
opinions715People 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/html-50d998982.html
Related articles
Jon Wysocki dead at 53: Staind drummer passes away
opinionsThe music world is in mourning this Sunday, with word that original Staind drummer Jon Wysocki passi ...
【opinions】
Read moreSwiatek beats Raducanu in Stuttgart quarters. Sabalenka loses to Vondrousova
opinionsSTUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Emma Raducanu’s winning run came to an end in a 7-6 (2), 6-3 loss to top-r ...
【opinions】
Read moreMariah Carey turns heads in a dramatic gold floor
opinionsMariah Carey turned heads in a dramatic gold floor-length gown as she performed in her Celebration o ...
【opinions】
Read more
Popular articles
- Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
- Hackers claim Belarus fertilizer plant infiltrated to demand political prisoner release
- Olympic organizers unveil strategy for using artificial intelligence in sports
- The 20 best shows to watch On Demand this weekend
- Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
- Start of Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial is delayed a week to mid
Latest articles
Brazil replaces injured goalkeeper Ederson in Copa America squad
Eric Bana gets animated during AFL game between the St Kilda Saints and the Western Bulldogs
Start of Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial is delayed a week to mid
Rita Ora flashes some cleavage in a scoop
Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics
California court to weigh in on fight over transgender ballot measure proposal language
LINKS
- Mainland ready to aid disaster relief after Taiwan earthquake: spokesperson
- 'Love in Nanning' concert unites singles for a romantic evening
- Palestinian death toll in Gaza exceeds 33,000
- Emily Ratajkowski bares her toned tummy in a white tube top as she strolls NYC with her dog Colombo
- Retail sales surge 0.7% in March as Americans seem unfazed by higher prices with jobs plentiful
- Teresa Giudice rocks pink
- China to establish modern eco
- NetEase Inc renews game partnership with Blizzard
- Kesha changes Diddy lyrics in her hit song TiK ToK during Coachella set with Renee Rapp
- Australian PM demands accountability for citizen's death in Gaza