Current location:opinions >>
A third of foreign students seeking to stay in the UK are at just SIX institutions, figures show
opinions6People 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 Capsule news portal”。http://portugal.ultrasupramonte.com/content-49e899094.html
Related articles
Elon Musk gets approval from FDA to implant his Neuralink brain chip into a second patient
opinionsElon Musk’s Neuralink has been given a green light to implant its brain chip in a second patient aft ...
【opinions】
Read moreSenior Chinese legislator emphasizes importance of handling ethnic affairs according to the law
opinions(Xinhua) 11:23, March 21, 2024URUMQI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) off ...
【opinions】
Read moreChinese premier pledges efforts to promote equipment upgrades, trade
opinions(Xinhua) 08:16, March 29, 2024Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of t ...
【opinions】
Read more
Popular articles
- Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
- Mainland refutes DPP claim on international waters in Taiwan Strait
- Lisa Blatt nears a record 50 arguments before the Supreme Court
- Sébastien Haller’s first Dortmund start since winning Africa Cup lasts just 8 minutes
- Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI
- Full Text: Report on the Work of the Government
Latest articles
Inquiry slams UK authorities for failures that killed thousands in infected blood scandal
Guardians of rails: Powering safe journeys for all
Executor of O.J. Simpson's estate plans to fight payout to the families of Brown and Goldman
Understanding what an open China means to the world through "thinner" suitcases
Medics remove 150 MAGGOTS from a woman's mouth after dental procedure left her with rotting tissue
Mainland refutes DPP claim on international waters in Taiwan Strait
LINKS
- Scenic spots keep locals coming back
- Roof of the world inhabited since 50,000 years ago: archaeologists
- Highlights of beach volleyball match at 19th Asian Games
- In pics: 40th FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships
- China beats Philippines at Asian Women's Volleyball Championship
- Exhibition on Caravaggio works receives 80,000 visitors in Shanghai
- Roof of the world inhabited since 50,000 years ago: archaeologists
- Ice lantern festival kicks off in Yanqing
- New findings unveil stone processing practices of China's Liangzhu civilization
- Volleyball ignites latest rural sports passion on China's tropical island