The University of Glasgow has been given three months to fix issues with sponsorship of foreign students, or their license could be revoked. This would jeopardise their ability to enrol international students.
The Home Office told the University that there were “several compliance issues” following the audit by UK Visas and Immigration this summer.
It is unclear what the specific issues are, however the University has agreed to amend them. If a second inspection fails next year, it could have serious consequences for the University and its international students.
This news comes as the number of international students continue to fall, creating financial pressure on the already stretched university sector. Several Scottish institutions have issued redundancy warnings to staff, following cuts to higher education announced in the Budget.
The University of Glasgow has recently tightened attendance monitoring in lectures and seminars, as mandated by the Home Office. Hillhead Review understands that this allows the University to uphold legal requirements which allow international students to live and study in the UK.
Although some students are unhappy with this requirement, suggesting that staff are made to be “extensions of UK Border Force” by tracking attendance and allowing international students to remain enrolled.
The University of Glasgow is “confident” that necessary changes will be implemented, allowing international students to remain in the UK.
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