The University of Glasgow faces three month deadline to resolve visa sponsorship issues

The University of Glasgow has been given a three-month ultimatum by the Home Office to address compliance issue with its sponsorship system for international students, raising concerns over its ability to host students from outside the UK.

A UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) audit conducted over the summer uncovered “several compliance issues” in the university’s adherence to visa rules for foreign students. While the specific discrepancies remain undisclosed, the university has pledged to make the necessary corrections within the timeframe.

Failure to meet UKVI’s stringent sponsorship criteria can result in universities losing their licence to host international students—a critical source of funding for institutions such as the University of Glasgow. According to Home Office guidelines, minor breaches may result in cooperation to rectify issues, but significant or systematic failings can lead to licence revocation.

In a memo seen by The Herald, the Universities and Colleges Union Glasgow (UCUG) revealed that a task force of university staff has been assembled to address the problems urgently.

The UCUG said: “The University of Glasgow will see it as vitally important that the changes are successfully implemented, as failing a second inspection could have significant consequences for the university’s ability to sponsor visas going forward.”

International students make up a significant portion of Scotland’s higher education community. The 2022-2023 academic year saw record numbers of foreign students enrolled at Scottish universities, accounting for nearly 29 per cent of all students. At the University of Glasgow, 15,200 international students were enrolled during that period.

The university’s reliance on international tuition fees underscores the importance of maintaining its sponsorship licence.

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A spokesperson for the University of Glasgow confirmed to The Glasgow Tab that UKVI identified compliance issues during a June 2024 audit but reassured stakeholders that the university is on track to resolve them: “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.

“We are confident that we can complete the required actions in the specified timescale; in the meantime, all activities continue as normal.”

The university emphasised that it had not failed the audit and expressed optimism about meeting UKVI’s criteria.

A Home Office spokesperson reiterated the importance of compliance, stating: “It is essential that sponsoring institutions comply with their sponsorship duties to avoid abuse of the system.”

While the university works to implement the required changes, the situation highlights the high stakes for institutions that host international students. Failure to meet compliance requirements could jeopardise the university’s ability to attract foreign students, a cornerstone of its financial model and global reputation.

For now, all eyes are on the University of Glasgow as it races to secure its future as a host for international students.

Featured image via Pexels