A Scottish university has been given three months to fix issues with its sponsorship system for foreign students or risk losing its license to host them.

The University of Glasgow has been warned by the Home Office over “several compliance issues” with the rules regarding foreign students taking courses. 

An audit of the university’s compliance with visa rules was carried out during the summer by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), part of the Home Office. 

This uncovered as-yet undisclosed discrepancies which the university has now agreed to correct.

UKVI rules show that initiations which fail to meet its strict rules can lose their licence to sponsor host foreign students, which are vital to university finances.   

A memo sent by the Universities and Colleges Union Glasgow (UCUG) seen by The Herald says that a 'taskforce' has been assembled among university staff to rectify the problems in the sponsorship system as soon as possible. 

The UCUG statement says that "[University of Glasgow] will see it as vitally important that the changes are successfully implemented, as failing a second inspection could have significant consequences for the University's ability to sponsor visas going forward."  

The ability to attract and host foreign students is vital to the University of Glasgow, which relies on the funds they pay for their tuition.  

Foreign students are vital to Scottish Universities' finances (stock pic) Foreign students are vital to Scottish Universities' finances (stock pic) (Image: NQ) The number of international students studying at Scotland’s universities rose to a record high in the 2022-2023, the most recent academic year figures have been made available for, and now makes up nearly 29 per cent of the total. 

According to the latest figures, the University of Glasgow hosted 15,200 students from outwith the UK that year. 

Home office guidelines state that UKVI will work with an an institution which finds itself in breach of the sponsorship rules if the issue is minor ‘and the sponsor poses no continuing threat to immigration control’. 

However, where there is a serious breach is uncovered, ‘indicating a significant or systematic failing’, UKVI may decide to revoke the sponsor’s licence.  

The rules state: “This may also occur where there has been sustained non-compliance over a period of time, or where there have been a number of breaches which are isolated or minor in themselves but – taken together – indicate a serious or systematic failing.” 

University of Glasgow sources were at pains to stress it had not failed an audit by UKVI, and that it was “confident” of meeting the criteria imposed by UKVI within the specified timescale.  

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A spokesman for the University of Glasgow said: “In June 2024, UK Visas & Immigration (part of the Home Office) undertook an audit of the University's compliance with its student sponsor duties.   

“UKVI has highlighted “several compliance issues” which they require us to address in the next three months. 

"We have put together a response team led by a member of the senior management group and including members of staff from across the University.”   

They added: “We are confident that we can complete the required actions in the specified timescale; in the meantime, all activities continue as normal." 

The Home Office has been approached for comment.