Two further student visa sponsors have been placed on ¡°action plans¡± after apparently breaching sponsor requirements.

The University of Glasgow and private provider Study Group, which operates international study centres with more than a dozen partner universities, have been given what UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) describes as an ¡°opportunity to improve [their] processes in order to avoid any further breaches, and to ensure that it does not become necessary for UKVI to revoke [their] licence¡±, which is a requirement for enrolling international students.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Office guidance says that institutions can be placed on an action plan when they have ¡°committed a breach, short of a serious breach¡± of the sponsor requirements. The reasons the institutions have been placed on action plans have not been disclosed, but assessments cover metrics such as visa refusal, enrolment and course completion rates.

Three UK higher education institutions previously revealed by?Times ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø?to be on the UKVI list ¨C the University of Central Lancashire (Uclan), De Montfort University and Nottingham Trent University ¨C remain subject to action plans.

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Study Group told THE that the use of action plans for student visa sponsors was increasing, and that it welcomed the increased ¡°rigour and scrutiny¡±.

A spokesperson said UKVI highlighted a ¡°very small number of areas¡± for further attention during a routine audit in January 2024. It issued an action plan in December.

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¡°We are confident that all matters will be resolved to the satisfaction of UKVI within the specified timescale,¡± the spokesperson said.

¡°Our operations are unaffected. We remain fully licensed to sponsor students under the student sponsor route and committed to provide them with a quality education in preparation for university studies.¡±

The organisation said it comfortably exceeds the basic compliance assessment metrics required by UKVI ¨C with a visa refusal rate of 0.3 per cent, 98 per cent enrolment rate, and 95 per cent course completion rate. The required rates are below 10 per cent, above 90 per cent, and above 85 per cent, respectively.

¡°As evidenced by the recent greater use of action plans across higher education providers, we believe this brings an increasing amount of rigour and scrutiny around international students, which we are fully committed to as a provider of quality education,¡± added the spokesperson.

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Glasgow was also issued an action plan in December, following an audit in June. UKVI highlighted ¡°several compliance issues¡± which Glasgow must address in the next three months.

¡°We have put together a response team led by a member of the senior management group and including members of staff from across the university,¡± said a university spokesperson.

¡°We are confident that we can complete the required actions in the specified timescale; in the meantime, all activities continue as normal, including the issuing of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to international students.¡±

Sponsors must pay a fee when they are placed on an action plan, which typically lasts three to six months.

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Study Group has international student centres at Cardiff University, Durham University, Kingston University, Teesside University and Liverpool John Moores University, as well as at the University of Leeds, the University of Sheffield, the University of Huddersfield ¨C and its London campus ¨C the University of Strathclyde, the University of Surrey, and the University of Sussex, plus Royal Holloway, University of London.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com