29/05/2024
Since the devaluations of the Nigerian currency, the naira, in the last year, and the rampant inflation there, currently sitting at around 30%, Nigerian international students have been facing acute financial difficulty.
Teesside University has withdrawn visa sponsorship from Nigerian students who had fallen behind on their tuition fee payments, and the students have then been told they will have to leave the UK. The Home Office has told the students that they have no right of appeal, and that the decision to withdraw support was entirely the university’s.
Some students have since made up the default in fees. However, that does not resolve the status issue, and they are unable to re-enrol, though some were on the cusp of finishing their studies.
So far there has been no public response from the National Union of Students (either the outgoing or the incoming elected officers), from Teesside University Student Union, or from the recently elected Labour Students leadership.
Universities in the UK rely heavily on exorbitant fees for international students. Fees average £22k, and can be anything between £11k and £38k a year. International students are ineligible for any financial support, exempt from hardship funds and are prevented from working more than 16 hours per week. This creates a situation where they are not only exploited by the institutions, but are also at risk of exploitation by unscrupulous employers too.
Education should be free for all. International student fees in Europe are much lower than in Britain except at some private universities. There should be parity. When fees are abolished for home students, then they should be for international students too.
