NewStats: 3,263,673 , 8,180,985 topics. Date: Saturday, 07 June 2025 at 08:51 AM 1d3k5z

Nigerian students have been thrown off university courses and ordered to leave the UK after a currency crisis left them struggling to pay tuition fees on time.

Teesside University students were blocked from their studies and reported to the Home Office after the value of Nigeria's naira plummeted, wiping out their savings.

Some told the BBC they felt suicidal as they accused the university of taking a "heartless" approach to those who fell into arrears as a consequence.

A university spokesman said failure to pay was a breach of visa sponsorship requirements, and that it had "no choice" but to alert the Home Office. The Home Office said visa sponsorship decisions rested with the institution.

Nigeria is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis in a generation, which is having a significant impact on Nigerian students at some UK universities.

Average inflation is close to 30%, and the situation deteriorated when the country's president attempted to replace old currency with new. Some students accused the university of being "heartless".

Before beginning their studies at Teesside, affected students were told they had to show proof of having enough funds to pay tuition fees and living expenses.However, those funds were significantly depleted as a result of the crisis in their home country.

This exacerbated financial problems already being experienced by students as a result of the university changing tuition fee payment plans from seven instalments to three.

A group of students, 60 of whom shared their names with the BBC, began pressing the university for after a number of people who defaulted on payments were frozen out of university s and involuntarily withdrawn from their courses. Some were reportedly also ed by debt collection agencies contracted by the university

Adenike Ibrahim was close to graduating when she had her visa revoked,Adenike Ibrahim was close to handing in her dissertation at the end of two years of study when she missed one payment and was then kicked off her course and reported to the Home Office. She subsequently paid the outstanding fees, but said she had not been re-enrolled and was told she must leave the country, along with her young son.

"I did default [on payments], but I'd already paid 90% of my tuition fees and I went to all of my classes," she said. "I called them and asked to reach an agreement, but they do not care what happens to their students."

She said the experience was "horrendous" and she did not know what was happening with her qualification. "It has been heartbreaking for my son especially, he has been in so much distress since I told him," Ms Ibrahim added.

No right of appeal

The Home Office told students, including Ms Ibrahim, that their permission to enter the UK had been cancelled because they stopped studying at the university. The letters, seen by the BBC, offer a date by which the student must leave the country and say they do not have a "right of appeal or istrative review against the decision".

Since receiving his letter, one masters degree student - who did not want to be named - said he had seriously considered suicide and was not eating or drinking. The university said it had made "every effort" to affected students, who had now been offered individual meetings with specialist staff and bespoke payment plans where requested.

Esther Obigwe is avoiding telling her family about what has happened to her as she is so embarrassed .Esther Obigwe said she repeatedly tried to speak to the university about her financial struggles but received no response, until she too was blocked from her studies and received notice to leave the country.

"I attended all of my classes and seminars, I'm a hell of an active student," she said. "It is disheartening, I am now on antidepressants and being here alone, I have nobody to talk to. "For over two months, I've barely eaten or slept and I don't understand why this is being meted at us, we didn't do anything wrong."

She added that most of the students had "spent a lot of money to be here". Jude Salubri wants the university to reinstate affected students and engage more with them .Jude Salubi, who was studying to be a social worker, was midway through a placement when he was told his access to the university was suspended and he would have to leave the country.

Prior to that, he travelled from Teesside to Liverpool each weekend to work 18 hours in an attempt to pay off the outstanding fees.
"As of now I have paid £14,000 and have balance of £14,000," he said. "I am willing to come to an agreement as to how I will make this payment, but I need guarantees that I will be re enrolled into school and my visa restored."

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can find advice here.
Some affected students have managed to pay off outstanding fees, but the university is now unable to intervene in the Home Office process, the BBC understands.

A university spokesman said: "Teesside University is proud to be a global institution with a diverse student population but is also very aware of its obligations regarding visa issuance and compliance. "These strict external regulations ensure that the university fully s a robust immigration system and is outside of the university’s control."

The spokesman added it was "aware of the challenging financial situation faced by some students" and had "actively offered bespoke payment plans where requested".

"This option has been taken up by many of our international students; however, some students have still defaulted on these revised payment plans," he said. The Home Office said a decision to offer or withdraw visa sponsorship rested with the sponsoring institution.

A spokesman said wherever a visa was shortened or cancelled, individuals should "take steps to regularise their stay or make arrangements to leave the UK".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c888926qx58o

Richiez
Seun
Mods

I have always prefered Finland, Norway, Australia\Newzealand to UK and Canada. I love FINLAND so much!

Any small thing ..una don start protest .....will the University not collect their money becos of ur clueless government's policies??


UK will soon start block like or tell students to starts presenting dollar or pounds as proof of funds.... Na that time una eyes go clear...

Nigerian govt has not only put Nigerian at home in hardship, they have extended it to those abroad.

They should include the duration of time the school gave them to offset their outstanding fees in their plaquecards. The school itted them because they provided evidence that they can pay their fees, where is all that money? Sorry, you can't keep owing school fees and expect for your ission not to be terminated eventually. Once your ission is terminated, you have no business left in the country. Japa via the study route is the worst economic decision anybody that's not upper class can make.

Home and abroad na frustration.

They look hungry and used .

A

A good currency should be a good store of value but the fluctuating naira under this reckless government is the direct opposite.


In addition to what these students are witnessing, changing currency creates tension and uncertainty in trade and investment and stifles economic growth.

Bad omen

So they can’t work under the table and earn money to their schoolfees?

Changed policy from 7 installment to 3 installment without even considering the student is an act of wickedness.
How do you want the students to cope and they didn't even waste time in reporting the defaulters to the Home office

Ok

Coffee side nko

Being a Nigerian should be added to 1,000 ways to die

Newlymarried:


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c888926qx58o

So sweet

You can't even japa in peace. Nigeria will still come haunting you in one way or the other

That's the aftereffect of a Bulabalu government.

He dey touch everywhere

Home and Abroad..

Ijoba Buruku

Ijoba Asetani..

So they can pay almost £30000 for tuition total... More than 33 million naira...

I really pity the affected students. This is the tilumbunation we are suffering and the sad part of it is that some of these affected students might even have ed ebola to be the president of this nation!

The whole world is going through financials and economic crisis, not Nigeria alone

Tuition fee for international students is very expensive.I hope they are able to find money

Let them return to Nigeria. Tinubu has transformed Nigeria into a first world country. ABU is better than Oxford. Uniben is better than Yale. Unilag is better than Princeton.

Which currency crisis? Please stop spreading fake news. You nor get money to pay tuition fee nor be currency crisis.

Nor be today international students in UK universities dey owe. Must you blame Nigeria for all your problems?

Except they left 2 years ago, I don't pity them.It
is almost a year now that GBP is exchange over #1000, except you forged ur proof of funds,u should be able to pull through even with the current exchange rate.

Newlymarried:


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c888926qx58o

So then no see other countries even Angola here

If u like japa ur sin will find you out. Evil Nigerians. You Tinubu now u wan run

failed state

Why are they all having funny looks