Hotline open after university loses its international licence
8:37am Thursday 6th September 2012 in News
THE University of Bolton has thrown an education lifeline to students at risk of being forced to leave the UK.
Thousands of students have been left in limbo following the decision to revoke London Metropolitan University’s licence to sponsor international students.
Bosses at the University of Bolton have said they will do their “utmost” to help London Met students to continue their studies.
The Government revoked London Metropolitan’s “highly trusted status” for sponsoring international students last week, after it found that more than a quarter of a sample of students studying at the university did not have permission to stay in the country.
Martyn Shaw, director of marketing and international recruitment, said: “The University of Bolton is very sympathetic to the situation the London Met’s international students and international applicants are in.
“We will do our utmost to assist existing London Met students and applicants with relevant qualifications.”
In the first instance, he said, those students and applicants should contact the helpline set up by the London university, but they can find out about studying at the University of Bolton by calling its clearing hotline.
Places are still available to international students on several courses, including engineering, law and business.
Immigration minister Damian Green said a “significant proportion” of the London students did not have good English and there was no proof that half of those sampled were turning up to lectures.
London Met has said it would be contesting the decision after reading the report by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) in full.
In a statement it added: “Working with its advisers, the university has conducted a thorough review of UKBA’s evidence, and in the strongest possible terms challenges the outcome.
“London Met appreciates that, as the first UK university to be placed in this position, it has a duty to the sector to try and bring an end to the damage arising from UKBA’s decision.”
