Teesside University threw Nigerians off their university programmes, order them to leave UK

According to the BBC, some Nigerian students have staged protests on campus after Teesside University cancelled their academic programs and told them to leave the country.

On Tuesday morning, the students protested with placards against the school’s decision, which they said was the result of the naira’s depreciation and which has made it difficult for them to pay their tuition on time.

Following the depreciation of the Nigerian naira, which wiped out the students’ money, Teesside University students were barred from continuing their education and reported to the Home Office.

Some admitted to feeling suicidal after accusing the university of treating people who fell behind in their payments with “heartlessness.”

A university spokesman said failure to pay was a breach of visa sponsorship requirements, and that it had “no choice” but to alert the Home Office. The Home Office said visa sponsorship decisions rested with the institution.

These young learners face difficulties as Nigeria is currently experiencing an unfavourable economic crisis, which is having a significant impact on Nigerian students at some UK universities.

Before beginning their studies at Teesside, affected students were told they had to present evidence of having enough funds to pay tuition fees and living expenses, but funds were significantly depleted as a result of the crisis in Nigeria.

This worsened financial problems already being experienced by students as a result of the university changing tuition fee payment plans from seven instalments to three.

Consequently, a group of students, 60 of whom shared their names with the BBC, began pressing the university for support after a number of people who defaulted on payments were frozen out of university accounts and involuntarily withdrawn from their courses.

While some were reportedly also contacted by debt collection agencies contracted by the university, some of them like Adenike Ibrahim who was close to graduation had her visa revoked.

Adenike Ibrahim was close to handing in her dissertation at the end of two years of study when she missed one payment and was then kicked off her course and reported to the Home Office.

She subsequently paid the outstanding fees, but said she had not been re-enrolled and was told she must leave the country, along with her young son.

“I did default [on payments], but I’d already paid 90% of my tuition fees and I went to all of my classes,” she said.

“I called them and asked to reach an agreement, but they do not care what happens to their students.”

She said the experience was “horrendous” and she did not know what was happening with her qualification.

“It has been heartbreaking for my son especially, he has been in so much distress since I told him,” Ms Ibrahim added.

The Home Office told students, including Ms Ibrahim, that their permission to enter the UK had been cancelled because they stopped studying at the university.

The letters, seen by the BBC, offer a date by which the student must leave the country and say they do not have a “right of appeal or administrative review against the decision”.

Since receiving his letter, one masters degree student – who did not want to be named – said he had seriously considered suicide and was not eating or drinking.

The university said it had made “every effort” to support affected students, who had now been offered individual meetings with specialist staff and bespoke payment plans where requested.

Another affected student, Esther Obigwe has refused to tell her family about what has happened to her as she is so embarrassed.

Esther Obigwe said she repeatedly tried to speak to the university about her financial struggles but received no response, until she too was blocked from her studies and received notice to leave the country.

“I attended all of my classes and seminars, I’m a hell of an active student,” she said.

“It is disheartening, I am now on antidepressants and being here alone, I have nobody to talk to.

“For over two months, I’ve barely eaten or slept and I don’t understand why this is being meted at us, we didn’t do anything wrong.”

She added that most of the students had “spent a lot of money to be here”.

Also, Jude Salubri wanted Teesside University to reinstate affected students and engage more with them, adding that making agreements could solve the problems.

Jude Salubi, who was studying to be a social worker, was midway through a placement when he was told his access to the university was suspended and he would have to leave the country.

Prior to that, he travelled from Teesside to Liverpool each weekend to work 18 hours in an attempt to pay off the outstanding fees.

“As of now I have paid £14,000 and have a balance of £14,000,” he said.

“I am willing to come to an agreement as to how I will make this payment, but I need guarantees that I will be re enrolled into school and my visa restored.”

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can find advice here.

Some affected students have managed to pay off outstanding fees, but the university is now unable to intervene in the Home Office process, the BBC understands.

A university spokesman said: “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 spokesman added it was “aware of the challenging financial situation faced by some students” and had “actively offered bespoke payment plans where requested”.

“This option has been taken up by many of our international students; however, some students have still defaulted on these revised payment plans,” he said.

The Home Office said a decision to offer or withdraw visa sponsorship rested with the sponsoring institution.

A spokesman said wherever a visa was shortened or cancelled, individuals should “take steps to regularise their stay or make arrangements to leave the UK”.