London Metropolitan¹ University is to lose its licence to teach foreign students, it has been reported, becoming the first UK university to be stripped of its Highly Trusted Sponsor status by the UK Border Agency.

 

Malcolm Gillies, the university's vice-chancellor, told The Sunday Times that the decision would have an "immense" impact on London Met and its partners, warning that the students affected² would include those already enrolled³.

 

He said this would leave the university with a 15% shortfall in funding and unable to teach thousands of non-EU students – including those who have completed parts of their degrees and diplomas – who would have to be deported⁴.

 

"Their surprise, shock and concern will be huge, and we shall work with them to ensure they have the widest range of options to continue their studies, either in the UK or elsewhere," he said.

 

Professor Gillies added that the university was "immensely disappointed" by the news, stating that it had done everything it could to demonstrate its fitness to continue educating overseas students since the UKBA suspended its highly trusted status six weeks ago.

 

Gillies denied the university was an "immigration threat". London Metropolitan had restored its reputation after a £36.5m fine in 2009 for over-inflating student numbers and was now "as diligent⁵ as any [institution] in the country" when it came to reporting enrolment data, checking foreign student attendance and meeting Home Office requirements on English language for higher learning.

 

The border agency's decision, which has not yet been formally announced but has been leaked to the Sunday Times, follows an audit⁶ of London Met earlier this month.

 

Its inspectors⁷ reportedly concluded that students were "continuing to study at [London Met] without valid⁸ leave [visas] despite the university having reassured⁹ us that this issue had been rectified¹⁰".

 

They also found that the university had failed to report students who had secured study visas but had not turned up for courses, as well as shortcomings in the testing of English language skills and academic ability and records.

 

London Met is the first UK university to have its highly trusted status revoked¹¹, although two others - Glasgow Caledonian University and Teesside University - have previously¹² had their licences suspended and then reinstated.

 

The university is entitled to appeal against the UKBA's decision, and will be able to reapply for Highly Trusted Sponsor status in six months.

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