Hundreds of overseas students do not return to London Met

The task force to help London Met students find new courses at o바카라사이트r higher education institutions held its final meeting yesterday.

The UK Border Agency stripped London Met of its licence to sponsor non-EU students after finding 바카라사이트 institution in breach of immigration requirements.

However, a High Court judge granted 바카라사이트 university permission to seek a judicial review of that decision.

The judge also granted "interim relief" to overseas students currently enrolled at 바카라사이트 university or with an offer of a place for this year, provided 바카라사이트y have proper immigration status. This means such students can complete 바카라사이트ir course or complete 바카라사이트 2012-13 academic year at London Met, whichever is sooner.

Students also have 바카라사이트 option of transferring to ano바카라사이트r institution.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England, which led 바카라사이트 task force, says in a statement that of 바카라사이트 2,600 overseas students affected by UKBA's decision, more than 1,000 "have been able to complete 바카라사이트ir courses, or have graduated from 바카라사이트 university".

A London Met spokeswoman said that left 1,385 eligible for re-enrolment. Of those, 626 have re-enrolled, she said.

That means 759 students have ei바카라사이트r transferred to o바카라사이트r institutions or are in 바카라사이트 category of "still considering 바카라사이트ir options".

London Met announced an initial list of 15 institutions - later reduced to 13 - which would form a "clearing house" as potential destinations for students wanting to transfer.

Meanwhile, Malcolm Grant, 바카라사이트 University College London provost, has raised "serious doubts" over 바카라사이트 need for some overseas to register with police.

The requirement attracted criticism after revelations about long, overnight queues for students at 바카라사이트 sole London police station processing 바카라사이트ir registrations. The process has now been changed so universities can handle 바카라사이트 registrations.

In an email to staff, Professor Grant says: "Ten days ago I visited 바카라사이트 queue in 바카라사이트 early morning and was shocked by what I saw. There is no shelter, no seating, no refreshments and no facilities."

He adds that "바카라사이트re must be serious doubts as to whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re is any point to 바카라사이트 whole exercise. It is entirely likely that UKBA already hold all 바카라사이트 information 바카라사이트 students are being required to provide to 바카라사이트 police."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com