2,500 students may lose out at London Metropolitan University

There are fears students will be deported over their visas being cancelled...

London Metropolitan University (LMU) has lost its position in being able to issue visas, and now overseas students are at risk of being sent home, it has been revealed.

It is understood the deportations could occur within 60 days, after the UK Border Agency began its investigation of the University. This related to LMU’s compliance to visa rules and its right to teach non-EU students.

According to Channel 4, LMU has been accused of failing to address "serious and systematic failings", of which were apparent six months ago.

Following the agencies audit, it was found that 25% of LMU students were not entitled to live in the country and that many had improper English.

It is estimated that foreign students attract around £12.5bn to the UK annually, and there are fears this will be affected and that these people will have nowhere to go.

Malcolm Gillies, Vice Chancellor of LMU, has expressed his anxieties over the matter stating that LMU could lose 20% of its budget if the Uni, which has 30,000 students, was to lose its foreign students.

It is understood that the Government will look to helping legitimate students carry on their studies elsewhere.

The General Secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt, is against the action: “The last thing we can afford to do is send a message that international students are no longer welcome here."

Many believe that the UK’s reputation of providing education to overseas students will as a result be damaged.

This news comes as the UK cracks down on immigration in 2012, but there are fears it will not be beneficial, with the country also focusing on improving its economy.

There are approximately 300,000 overseas students in the UK at present, with a value to the British economy worth around £5bn.