A group of Nigerian students have been expelled from their university courses and ordered to leave the United Kingdom after failing to pay their tuition fees on time.
It was reported that the students from Teesside University claim that the devaluation of the naira has made it difficult to meet their financial obligations, leading to a breach of visa sponsorship requirements. As a result, some students have been blocked from their studies, reported to the Home Office, and instructed to leave the UK. The university cites strict external regulations as the reason for its actions.
The affected students have expressed distress and disappointment, accusing the university of being “heartless” and failing to provide adequate support. Sixty students, who shared their names with the media, have banded together to urge the university to offer assistance after several faced severe consequences for defaulting on payments.
These students were abruptly locked out of their university accounts and forcibly withdrawn from their courses. Adenike Ibrahim, who was close to graduating, had her visa revoked and was told 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 attended all of my classes,”. “I called them and asked to reach an agreement, but they do not care what happens to their students. It has been heartbreaking for my son especially; he has been in so much distress since I told him.”
Another affected student, Esther Obigwe, has been struggling with depression due to the situation. She claims she repeatedly tried to communicate her financial struggles to the university but received no response until she was blocked from her studies and received a notice to leave the country. “I attended all of my classes and seminars; I’m an active student,” Obigwe 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. I don’t understand why this is happening to us; we didn’t do anything wrong.”
Jude Salubi, a student pursuing a degree in social work, was suddenly informed that his access to the university would be suspended and that he would be required to leave the country, despite being in the middle of a critical placement. Salubi said he commuted from Teesside to Liverpool every weekend, working 18 hours to try to settle his outstanding fees. “As of now, I have paid £14,000 and have a balance of £14,000. I am willing to come to an agreement on how I will make this payment, but I need guarantees that I will be re-enrolled into school and my visa restored,” he said.
A university spokesman stated, “Teesside University is proud to be a global institution with a diverse student population, but we are also very aware of our 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 acknowledged the financial struggles faced by some students and mentioned that the university has proactively offered customized payment plans to those who have requested them. “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 clarified that the decision to grant or withdraw visa sponsorship lies with the sponsoring institution. In cases where a visa is shortened or canceled, individuals are advised to either regularize their stay or make arrangements to depart the UK.
