The Home Office has allegedly revoked London School of Business and Finance's (LSBF) license to recruit and teach non EU students. The college is part of for-profit education group Global University Systems, which runs several institutions in the UK, Asia and North America.
The BBC reported that Home Office said the college had been found to be in breach of its duties in sponsoring students from outside the European Union. The college said the issue stemmed from "a technical discussion" about the proportion of non-EU students it had accepted whose visa applications had then been refused. The BBC further reported that LSBF rector and chief executive Prof Van Rooijen said the college's own independently audited figures were "definitely within the margins" so it was "surprised and shocked" by the Home Office's conclusion.
National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK published an advisory on facebook saying, “Any current Indian studens facing curtailment, please get in touch with NISU at [email protected]. No new international Indian student should apply to LSBF till further notice.”
One student said he feared he would be unable to complete his £8,500 course. Another student doing a master's degree in business administration at LSBF said almost half the students on his course had so far received a Home Office "notice of curtailment". The students are asked to return their residence permits and told they may not work in the UK.
Prof Rooijen reportedly said, "These are genuine and good students. We will deal with every student on an individual basis to ensure they will be able to continue their courses and complete their qualifications."
