A significant number of international students have found it impossible to take up their places at UL colleges after encountering problems with the new student visa regulations.

The exact number of those affected across the UL spread of colleges is difficult to establish. Not all universities have finished their registration period and until that data is compiled official numbers are lacking.

Despite these difficulties, Pat Power, Head of International Office at Queen Mary was able to confirm that: “In total about 25 students missed their chance to study here, because they did not get their visas in good time, despite having applied well in advance.  Most of these students were from Pakistan.

“The College tried to be as flexible as possible by offering late enrolment to affected students, but of course there comes a time when it would no longer be fair to allow students to join a course, as they might then not be able to catch up.”

Early indications at other colleges suggest similar problems. At King’s, enquiries to the Student Welfare Department went up “significantly” this summer, with an estimated 80% of those enquiries concerning visas.

International students make up half the student body at the LSE and concern there over the visa situation has been profound. Simeon Underwood, LSE academic registrar, noted that the number of students who arrived late for the start of the new term were up on last year, and that “some offer-holders, especially from Pakistan, have had to defer to next year and may conceivably be lost altogether.”

Underwood added: “We are also very aware from talking to our students that applying for a Tier 4 visa has, for many, been a difficult experience. The feedback largely focused on poor communication, with complaints that official information is spread across several government websites and that there was lack of consistency in the information that was available.”

There is a concern that the apparent failure of the new system to accommodate student applicants will take its toll on the perception of British universities overseas. Of the UL colleges, UCL, LSE, and University of the Arts London all rank in the top 20 recruiters of international students.

The points-based visa system has had vocal criticism from its conception; the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) having previously made ‘a number of submissions to ministers emphasising that if systems were not better integrated or delays reduced, the UK’s reputation and competitive position could well be in jeopardy.’

UKCISA is currently surveying affected students to ascertain the extent of the problem.

One Response to “New visa rules prevent international student taking up places”