A group of Nigerian students at Teesside University in the United Kingdom have been expelled from their courses and instructed to leave the country due to late tuition fee payments, according to a BBC report.
The students attribute their financial difficulties to the devaluation of the Nigerian naira, which has made it challenging for them to meet their tuition obligations. This has led to a violation of their visa sponsorship conditions.
Consequently, some students have been barred from continuing their studies, reported to the Home Office, and instructed to leave the UK. The university maintains that it had no alternative but to take these measures, citing stringent external regulations.
The affected students, numbering 60, who willingly disclosed their identities to the BBC, have expressed their disappointment and distress. They feel that the university is showing a lack of compassion and not providing sufficient support.
Several students have faced severe repercussions for failing to make payments, including being abruptly locked out of their university accounts and forcibly withdrawn from their courses.
Adenike Ibrahim, a student on the verge of graduation, had her visa revoked and was ordered to leave the country, despite having paid 90% of her tuition fees. “I did default [on payments], but I’d already paid 90% of my tuition fees and I attended all of my classes,” she told the BBC. “I reached out to them to negotiate, but they seem indifferent to the plight of their students.”
Esther Obigwe, another student affected by the situation, has been battling depression. She claims she made numerous attempts to discuss her financial difficulties with the university but received no response until she was barred from her studies and received a notice to leave the country.
Jude Salubi, a social work student, was suddenly informed that his university access would be suspended and that he would be required to leave the country, despite being in the middle of a crucial placement. Salubi, who has been commuting from Teesside to Liverpool every weekend and working 18 hours to try to settle his outstanding fees, said, “As of now I have paid £14,000 and have a balance of £14,000. I am willing to negotiate a payment plan, but I need assurances that I will be re-enrolled in school and my visa reinstated.”
A university spokesperson stated, “Teesside University is proud to be a global institution with a diverse student population but is also very aware of its obligations regarding visa issuance and compliance. These strict external regulations ensure that the university fully supports a robust immigration system and is outside of the university’s control.”
The spokesperson acknowledged that the university is aware of the financial struggles faced by some students and has proactively offered customised payment plans to those who have requested them. However, some students have still defaulted on these revised payment plans.
The Home Office clarified that the decision to grant or withdraw visa sponsorship lies with the sponsoring institution. In cases where a visa is shortened or cancelled, individuals are advised to either regularise their stay or make arrangements to depart the UK, a spokesman told the BBC.
