Hundreds of international students at University College London (UCL) will now be able to start their studies after the UK Home Office granted additional visas following a surge in demand that left many students in limbo, as per a report by The Guardian. The grant of extra visas comes after UCL exceeded its allocated number of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) electronic documents, a key requirement for obtaining a UK student visa.
UCL acknowledged the “extraordinary surge in demand” as the reason for over-recruitment and initially asked some students to defer their studies until next year. This created financial and logistical challenges for students who had already prepaid for travel and accommodation. Negotiations between the university and the Home Office led to the issuance of extra CAS numbers, allowing affected students to proceed with their plans.
“We’re pleased to be able to assure our affected international students that they can now begin their studies at UCL. We wholeheartedly apologise to all those who have been impacted by the recent uncertainty and we are incredibly grateful for their patience. Our teams are now working quickly to contact students directly with updates and support. We also thank the Home Office for working swiftly to assist us in obtaining the additional confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) numbers we requested,” said a UCL spokesperson, as reported by the Guardian.
The university also offered £1,000 to cover costs for students who used the UK Visa and Immigration “super priority service” to expedite their visa applications. Students who had received conflicting information over the past weeks expressed relief at finally receiving clarity. One student said, “I am overjoyed to be able to study in the UK. We were told many different things since last month, it was very stressful. I was already committed to paying for accommodation in London, with no refund available, so I am very relieved.”
Impact on students and timeline for arrival
Around 200 students from China were affected, with some already present in the UK at the end of September for the start of the university term. Those enrolled in taught postgraduate courses were required to arrive by 10 October to avoid losing their place.
UCL sent emails to the affected students, stating, “We cannot thank you enough for your patience with this process and we are extremely sorry for the disruption and uncertainty which this will have caused you. We know that it will have been both frustrating and unsettling, and we are grateful to you for your patience as we worked to resolve the situation.”
The university is now contacting students individually to provide updates and support to ensure they can join their courses without further delays.
Government and university coordination
The resolution highlights the role of government-university coordination in managing international student intake, particularly amid growing demand from countries such as China. UCL’s experience reflects broader pressures on UK universities to balance international recruitment with visa and immigration requirements, ensuring students can commence studies without facing administrative hurdles.
UCL acknowledged the “extraordinary surge in demand” as the reason for over-recruitment and initially asked some students to defer their studies until next year. This created financial and logistical challenges for students who had already prepaid for travel and accommodation. Negotiations between the university and the Home Office led to the issuance of extra CAS numbers, allowing affected students to proceed with their plans.
“We’re pleased to be able to assure our affected international students that they can now begin their studies at UCL. We wholeheartedly apologise to all those who have been impacted by the recent uncertainty and we are incredibly grateful for their patience. Our teams are now working quickly to contact students directly with updates and support. We also thank the Home Office for working swiftly to assist us in obtaining the additional confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) numbers we requested,” said a UCL spokesperson, as reported by the Guardian.
The university also offered £1,000 to cover costs for students who used the UK Visa and Immigration “super priority service” to expedite their visa applications. Students who had received conflicting information over the past weeks expressed relief at finally receiving clarity. One student said, “I am overjoyed to be able to study in the UK. We were told many different things since last month, it was very stressful. I was already committed to paying for accommodation in London, with no refund available, so I am very relieved.”
Impact on students and timeline for arrival
Around 200 students from China were affected, with some already present in the UK at the end of September for the start of the university term. Those enrolled in taught postgraduate courses were required to arrive by 10 October to avoid losing their place.
UCL sent emails to the affected students, stating, “We cannot thank you enough for your patience with this process and we are extremely sorry for the disruption and uncertainty which this will have caused you. We know that it will have been both frustrating and unsettling, and we are grateful to you for your patience as we worked to resolve the situation.”
The university is now contacting students individually to provide updates and support to ensure they can join their courses without further delays.
Government and university coordination
The resolution highlights the role of government-university coordination in managing international student intake, particularly amid growing demand from countries such as China. UCL’s experience reflects broader pressures on UK universities to balance international recruitment with visa and immigration requirements, ensuring students can commence studies without facing administrative hurdles.
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