London Met withdraws from Bangladesh as new BCA thresholds loom
The decision comes ahead of anticipated changes to the Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) thresholds that UK institutions must meet – or else risk having their sponsor license revoked. Under proposals outlined in Keir Starmer’s immigration white paper, each BCA metric would be tightened by five percentage points, lowering the visa refusal rate threshold for remaining within the ‘green’ compliance category to just 5%.
Gary Davies, deputy vice-chancellor at London Metropolitan University, confirmed to The PIE News that the university has had to take the “very regrettable decision” to withdraw from Bangladesh following an uptick in visa refusals for students from the South Asian country. The move comes as part of the institution’s steps to make sure it is comfortably within the proposed 5% BCA visa refusal threshold.
“So far, we’ve seen more refusals than we’re comfortable with. And 60-65% of them come from Bangladesh,” he explained. “This matches UKVI briefings indicating that they see Bangladesh as a high risk region.”
The decision has involved withdrawing CASs that have already been issued so that “no student will lose any money as a result”, Davies added.
“It wasn’t an easy decision, but we are doing this as a responsible sponsor in line with our obligations to the UK government and our commitment to applicant welfare. We’re very aware that once you get refused for a visa it makes it harder for students to get a visa – student, tourist or other type – in the future,” he told The PIE.
“Protecting student welfare is our first priority, including supporting long-term visa prospects and minimising unnecessary risk. As a student sponsor, we continue to meet the Home Office’s required standards and have robust systems in place to monitor our compliance.”
Davies said the decision was “very regrettable”, but that he and his colleagues at London Metropolitan University “genuinely felt there was no responsible alternative”.
The biggest impact of the white paper on immigration was always going to be on changing behaviours of institutions rather than students
Gary Davies, London Metropolitan University
And he stressed that the move had not been prompted by any formal discussions the university has had with UKVI, with London Met’s BCA metrics remaining “strong” and two of the three “comfortably within the new expected thresholds”.
“We believe this is a responsible and proportionate step given the current context,” said Davies. “The biggest impact of the white paper on immigration was always going to be on changing behaviours of institutions rather than students.”
The decision from London Metropolitan University forms part of a wider trend in the UK as institutions scramble to stay ahead of the expected squeeze on compliance rules.
Earlier this month, The PIE revealed that Glasgow Caledonian University had halted international student recruitment to courses at risk of being non-compliant under the anticipated new BCA thresholds.
The PIE has also had confirmation from the University of Sunderland that it has taken the decision to pause recruitment from Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
A spokesperson for the university said that the institution is “committed to continuously strengthening our recruitment practices and take our responsibilities under the UKVI licence seriously”, adding that while it regularly reviews its practices in light of changing situations, the proposals outlined in the immigration white paper “have introduced an additional layer to our considerations”.
“Decisions to suspend recruitment in regions identified as ‘high risk’ are not uncommon and have been taken at various points throughout the duration of our UKVI licence,” they said. “We will continue to sponsor all students who have already been issued a CAS and are expected to commence their studies with us.”
Meanwhile, QA Higher Education (QAHE) confirmed to The PIE last night that it too is pausing recruitment from Sudan, Iran, Syria, and Yemen for all IFP and IY1 programs for January, March and September intakes for some of its partner universities next year.
“We are always monitoring data and regulatory advice with our university partners,” said Nick Miller, the company’s chief commercial officer. “Where we identify contextual data or regulatory advice that presents risk, we take proactive steps to protect QAHE and our university partners and sadly this can, at times, impact applicants and students as a result.”
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