Your current location:HOME >opinions >A third of foreign students seeking to stay in the UK are at just SIX institutions, figures show 正文
TIME:2024-05-18 00:18:08 Source: Internet compilationEdit:opinions
More 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'.
The 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.
A 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.'
NHS trust made 'number of failures' in treatment of six2024-05-17 23:20
The Kings beat the Blazers 1212024-05-17 22:52
Masataka Yoshida hits 1 of 3 homers for the Red Sox, who beat Angels 52024-05-17 22:43
US works to prevent an escalation across the Mideast as Biden pushes Israel to show restraint2024-05-17 22:41
Meghan and Prince Harry 'are planning to do more royal2024-05-17 22:15
China registers progress in crackdown on cultural relic crimes2024-05-17 21:59
Russian businessman's tea journey to China2024-05-17 21:54
Shaolin Kung Fu competition enthralls martial arts enthusiasts in Oceania2024-05-17 21:52
Russia expels British defense attaché in a tit2024-05-17 21:52
81st World Science Fiction Convention kicks off in Chengdu2024-05-17 21:35
Jeremy Wells leads the way for club pros at PGA Championship2024-05-18 00:11
Steve Clifford ends Hornets coaching tenure as winningest coach in franchise history2024-05-17 23:55
Chinese, Ethiopian education institutions agree to promote skills development in technology2024-05-17 23:12
81st World Science Fiction Convention kicks off in Chengdu2024-05-17 22:28
David Beckham details what inspired him to film his tell2024-05-17 22:15
Fine arts students paint beautiful artworks in village in C China's Hubei2024-05-17 22:11
Emma Bates, a top US contender in the Boston Marathon, will try to beat Kenyans and dodge potholes2024-05-17 22:06
Chinese embassy in U.S. hosts Discover Beijing Opera cultural event2024-05-17 22:05
Britain's 'kindest' plumber damaged my home2024-05-17 21:59
Pic story of U.S. singer with Chinese songs2024-05-17 21:35