Reasons Nigerian Students at Teesside University are Ordered to Leave UK
Nigerian students at Teesside University have been removed from their courses and ordered to leave the UK due to a currency crisis that left them unable to pay their tuition fees on time.
Students at Teesside were barred from their studies and reported to the Home Office after the value of Nigeria’s naira plummeted, depleting their savings.
Some students told the BBC they felt suicidal, accusing the university of a “heartless” response to those who fell into arrears due to the economic crisis.
A university spokesman stated that failing to pay tuition fees breached visa sponsorship requirements, leaving the university with “no choice” but to report the students to the Home Office. The Home Office confirmed that visa sponsorship decisions are made by the educational institution.
Nigeria is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a generation, severely impacting Nigerian students at some UK universities. With inflation near 30%, the situation worsened after the president attempted to replace old currency with new. Some students described the university’s actions as “heartless.”
Before starting their studies, students were required to show proof of funds to cover tuition and living expenses. However, their savings were severely impacted by the economic crisis in Nigeria.
The university’s switch from a seven-instalment to a three-instalment payment plan exacerbated the students’ financial struggles. A group of students, including 60 who shared their names with the BBC, sought the university’s support after some who defaulted on payments were locked out of university accounts and removed from their courses. Some were also contacted by debt collection agencies hired by the university.
Adenike Ibrahim was close to graduating when her visa was revoked. She was about to submit her dissertation after two years of study when she missed one payment and was subsequently removed from her course and reported to the Home Office. Despite paying the outstanding fees, she has not been re-enrolled and must leave the country with her young son. “I defaulted on one payment but had paid 90% of my tuition fees and attended all my classes,” she said. “I tried to reach an agreement with the university, but they did not care about their students.”
Ibrahim described the experience as “horrendous” and expressed concern about her qualification. “It’s been heartbreaking for my son, who has been very distressed,” she added.
The Home Office informed students, including Ibrahim, that their visas were cancelled because they stopped studying. The letters seen by the BBC provided a date by which the students must leave the country and stated there was no right to appeal or request an administrative review.
One master’s degree student, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had contemplated suicide and was not eating or drinking after receiving his letter. The university stated it had made “every effort” to support affected students, offering individual meetings with specialist staff and bespoke payment plans when requested.
Esther Obigwe avoided telling her family about her situation out of embarrassment. She repeatedly tried to discuss her financial struggles with the university but received no response until she was blocked from her studies and ordered to leave the country. “I attended all my classes and seminars, and now I am on antidepressants with no one to talk to,” she said. “I don’t understand why this is happening to us; we did nothing wrong.”
Most students had spent significant amounts to study in the UK. Jude Salubi, a social work student, was midway through a placement when he was told he had to leave the country. He had been traveling to Liverpool each weekend to work 18 hours to pay off his fees. “I have paid £14,000 and have a balance of £14,000,” he said. “I am willing to make a payment agreement, but I need guarantees that I will be re-enrolled and my visa restored.”
If you have been affected by these issues, advice is available here.
Some students have managed to pay off their fees, but the university can no longer intervene in the Home Office process, according to the BBC.
A university spokesman stated, “Teesside University is proud of its diverse student population but must adhere to strict visa and compliance regulations.” He added that the university had offered bespoke payment plans, which many international students accepted, but some still defaulted on these revised plans. The Home Office stated that visa sponsorship decisions are the responsibility of the sponsoring institution and that individuals whose visas are shortened or cancelled should regularize their stay or make arrangements to leave the UK.
