Several colleges blacklisted by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) are set to fight to clear their names in court and to seek recompense for their suspension from sponsoring migrant students to study in the UK.
In the UK, the total number of blacklisted colleges by the UKBA stands at 142 and February 2010 saw the extreme step of outright suspending all applications from North Indian, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Much of the UKBA’s action to suspend and blacklist colleges in the UK surrounds the move from the old paper based system, to the more robust electronic Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies system, administered through the Sponsorship Management System. As part of a tightening up of the rules and migrating sponsors onto the new system, the UKBA has undertaken this systematic process of inspection and evaluation.
Many commentators have noted that it is likely the impending visa changes and tightening up of the rules on 3 March 2010 which has caused such a spike in visa applications.
An administrator from a college blacklisted by the UKBA has great concerns over the recent changes:
“There’s no doubt there were some dodgy colleges out there, but clearing them out would be easy with a ‘mystery shopper’ type inspection.
“Instead they are trying to turn colleges into arms of the state and rewarding the truly dodgy colleges, which will simply walk away with students’ money.”
A recent UKBA report on blacklisted colleges, following a meeting of key stakeholders, stated:
“A number of state schools currently remain suspended from the register whilst we clear up their licence issues. Not including state schools, this leaves 90 colleges that are currently suspended.”
All of these UKBA blacklisted colleges in the UK will need to be inspected and reviewed. This clearly creates an issue of length of process and potentially no income for colleges during their suspension.
Many unfortunate blacklisted colleges in the UK feel that they are being punished. Some have even claimed that they are getting into trouble for being open and sharing information with the UKBA: for example, reporting that a sponsor has disappeared. Some education providers have even claimed that the UKBA’s actions are too tough, as no student would want to work illegally in the UK given the state of the economy. However, I believe the opposite to be more likely, but that’s for another post.
The fact that the UKBA has been so indiscriminate in its approach – suspending large and small colleges alike – has drawn great criticism from within the industry. In fact, many within the industry had been warning the Home Office of the dangers of bogus colleges for years. In July 2009 there was even a Home Affairs Select Committee meeting called to examine the issue.
The problems have also created difficult situations for education agents around the world, having collected money and not being in a position to tell their clients when they will be able to begin their studies. Many students are often tied to the college if they’ve paid as they most likely won’t be eligible for a refund.
dear sir
i want to know is london business acedemy is black listed or it is in suspension .
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is london school of management education blacklisted college
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i want to know london school of mangement education is in black list plz reply me soon as possible
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i want to know the British School of Management Sciences is blacklisted or not by the UKBA
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hi sir i just arrived to this country snd i came to know the college i am gonna study is about to be blacklisted , now it is A grade .the name of the college is ethmes gradutae school.do u have any idea about that is ethames goin to be black listed college .if soo will i get my fees back .thankyou
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since you arrived at ethmes, how is the college in terms of studies…my sister is planning on applying to the school for mba…
is the school still about to be blacklisted…or has it been..
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Where can one report these fake colleges I have a few on my list
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i want to know the current status of london east bank college, where i am admitting for level 7
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sir i got admission in british istitute of technology and the awarding body iz university of east london . i get admission in bsc technology . i want to know abt the status of british institute of technology
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hi daniel i am santoshi . due to the black listed of the college i have changed my college and courses from this sept- oct .
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Hi, I m nashid..I hav completed my PGD In Management On May 2010.After that i m looking for any university for my dissertation..but most of d universities didnot allow my PGD awarding body NCFE..thats why i decided to get admission for MBA program in LSC..but the problem is that i hav 3 months gap in between d MBA admission..is it makes any problem?
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the thing i ask please reply me soon i am waiting for your answer.
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Please tell me West London College is a great College or suspended College and Will it Suspend
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I like to study Beauty Cultural course in UK College and My IELTS result is 4.5. Because of that I decided to apply English Course first and then Beauty Course. Please tell me can I get Studant Visa and Depending visa to my Husband from Embassy.
Thanking You,
Inoka
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