Schools in the UK are not as reliable as I thought they were. I realized that in the last 17 months.
17 months ago, I started a journey to apply to a UK college to further my Nursing studies or hopefully get a Master’s Degree. I didn’t realize what a struggle it would be. As the months dragged on, my experience with UK schools seems to get more extensive brought about by the constant changes in immigration laws and the so many problems that ensued.
St. Patrick’s College is the 3rd school I have applied to. The previous 2 were Regent International Graduate School and Thames International College. Both schools ended up being suspended by the UKBA. I thought that things would be different with St. Patrick since they proudly say they have a long history behind them. But still they ended up being suspended too. Now maybe I’m just unlucky in my choices but still I would highly recommend to those who are still starting the process that please choose your schools wisely or it will end up costing you a lot of money and waste a lot of your time. A year and a half has passed since I started this journey, and here I am again back to square one.
Suspended schools carry a lot of baggage. And stringent rules, under the eagle-sharp watchful eyes of the UKBA. And why shouldn’t the UKBA watch over them when they messed up already before? The trouble doesn’t even start there. Refunds to tuition fees that you, the student, has advanced to them will take forever. I still have to receive the tuition fee refund from Regent and I paid them back in Feb 2009 yet. Remember that the rules are there to protect the citizens of the United Kingdom, and not you, the international student. No one watches over you to makes sure that your rights are also protected. You got none of those in a foreign land.
My anger has stemmed tho, not from the suspension but what has happened after. I started the application process with St. Patrick in October 2009. By Nov 24, I had lodged my first visa application at the VFS. It got refused, bank technicalities. On Jan 14, I lodged a 2nd application, fixing my bank documents to meet the UKBA requirements. On Jan 18, St. Patrick got suspended. The visa application was put on hold. On March 3, the suspension was lifted. I was so happy. I thought that now finally, the visa will be released. That wasn’t what happened. Last week, an official from the school arrived, to do interviews. Evidently, of the 150 (or so) visa applications currently pending and on hold at the British Embassies worldwide, they had to choose 30 because that was the only available slots allotted to them by the UKBA. So just when you are so close to the finish line, they stop you to say…sorry the rules have changed. No biggie there…but it affects you soooo much when the rules change and your application has been oh hold at the British Embassy for 2 ½ months already.
Today, I was told that I didn’t get a slot. The school wanted me to withdraw my application. Or what, you ask? I do not know. There was NO OTHER OPTION given. No choice of waiting for the next term…get wait-listed…nothing. Mind you, my application to the school had already been approved. The visa was supposed to be the last step. THE FINAL STEP! They had accepted my application. They had issued a CAS. I had paid my tuition, well partially. Hence, wouldn’t you think that that this is grossly unfair? Changing the rules right before they stamp your passport and give you your visa? Changes should be done for new applications. Not applications that are already at the embassy. Its just nuts!
How would you like to be told by the British Embassy that your application was refused cuz the school ran out of slots? Interesting thought huh? Maybe I shouldn’t withdraw it, just so I can see what reason they would put on the return documents.
So to you who is still going thru the process of your application, choose your schools wisely. Those that never had problems with the UKBA would be a good start, specially now that they have been suspending schools left and right. It would be a nice idea also to keep a list of schools that had been suspended and reinstated. Just to guide others in their decision-making.
Somehow, the United Kingdom doesn’t seem that ideal anymore.
This post was submitted by Joy.
I believe that all the negative things that you have said here are based on your ignorance about the immigration rules and process of the United Kingdom. With regards to schools being suspended, these things really do happen and it sometimes it is not the decision of the schools to be suspended. Being suspended is different from having license withdrawn. I guess you should know this also. If your school’s license was suspended, this is caused by a lot of reasons and it doesn’t only mean that these schools are bogus or scam, there are a lot of reasons for this so never conclude that once the schools’ license is suspended, that means they’re bogus. ST. Patrick’s College is an honest college and their integrity has long been experienced. Maybe before you post something like this about the schools in the United Kingdom, maybe you should consider getting third party point of view aside from your one-sided biased complaint.
You should also be aware that the rules of the United Kingdom are not made by the schools but the United Kingdom Border Agency so do not blame the college if the rules have changed. Also, with regards to the tuition fee, it is now asked by the schools to pay in full because of the lapses of most students to pay their tuition fee when they get their visa. You are just speaking for yourself without even trying to see the angle of the schools. With regards to your statement that the United Kingdom should provide a list of the schools that were reinstated or suspended. The UKBA Home Office does not show a list of suspended schools because there are a lot of schools that have been suspended in the past. However, they have always posted the list of UK Registered Sponsors (Schools) that have license to accept students and the website its this:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pointsbasedsystem/registerofsponsorseducation
I guess before you complain about something you do not understand, you have to first understand the entire process. If you do not understand the entire process, that’s the reason that there are student visa consultancies that are capable of providing you information regarding these. But, of course you have to be more careful with such consultancies because there are some who have no experience or knowledge on this also. They are only there for business and money. Check their history and track records.
Message from someone who has already been to the UK, and have become stable here.
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Hi Joy, I agree with you. I am also a victim of St. Patrick’s College. I am very, very angry and frustrated with what happened. I felt like my dreams are killed the moment I learned that I did not qualify the interview. They said they only got 30 more slots left for the 150 applicants all over the world. “They are very, very unfair. Shame on them.” Why did they accept our applications in the first place if they aren’t sure that we are going to qualify? It’s very ridiculous. They just kept us hanging and waiting for nothing. My documents are lodged at the British Embassy since January and it’s been 2 1/2 months already. They could have just informed me earlier that I did not qualify so I have had the chance to transfer my application to another school instead of my application being stucked at the Embassy. I have WASTED a lot of TIME and MONEY. The hardest part is having to refund the fees we have paid and it will definitely take a very long time which will leave us waiting and waiting all over again :’(
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Surely you can get a refund though? You should also press them to refund all associated expenses.
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Hi Johnsmith
I agree with your comments and, like so many, am increasingly frustrated by the process of college registrations to date.
Once that shady character opens his college we are going to stage a demonstration outside! More to follow on that, later!
I have the greatest respect for ASIC but have been saddened by the non-response of their boss to emails sent to him in the past. I have now found a ready ear in Professor Wilson – he is throughly professional, approachable and does not hide behind a desk! He is genuine, sincere and not abrasive – but firm!
I was saddened to read of papers again being leaked. It did not happen at the college where I lecture – in fact I was present when each batch was taken from the locked safe, the envelopes opened and the contents handed to the invigilators.
I still ponder the issue of how money MIGHT be running the show! Are cash-strapped universities, colleges and the Chancellor and UKBA making decisions on the back of budget needs? I hope not!
Action against the crooks must be taken by those of us at grassroots level – demonstrate and get the media involved!
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hello london sam will back
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I hope confirmation will be provided by their inclusion in the Register of Sponsors soon.
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http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pointsbasedsystem/registerofsponsorseducation
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Bruce, who is letting him establish another college? The government need to put a cap on how many students are allowed to enrol at a new institution. I would say 150 students maximum. They should prove themselves to earn their cas.
Whats stopping him from renting a huge building and enrolling 1000 students. ASIC were handling out sweets sorry accredation to the most bogus flimsy colleges. They need to establish a tighter criteria. The system has been taken over by crooks. Look at the courses these colleges offer, most papers are leaked in advance to the students and sat in the colleges themselves. These type of courses should not be allowed but then the universitys are allowing colleges students to sit there final year with leaked papers aswel so where does it end. I think that the whole college industry is damaged and it will take a long time to repair if it is repairable!!!!!!!!
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It is sad to read so many stories like your. This whole debacle could have been nipped in the bud a long time ago IF the lazy, incompetent government officials LISTENED to the complaints and warnings about bogus colleges run my crooks.
Consider, if you will, the money that the scum-bags have made through their dishonest dealings – and, sadly so, they have got away with it!
One such disagrce to the human race is now opening another college out in Ilford. He has been responsible for so much criminality and, on the back of it, built himself a posh house in Pakistan plus a college! However, we are keeping close tabs on him and his day of reckoning is not far away.
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