Over half of London Met's eligible international students choose to leave

Over 55% - or 759 of 1,385 students - chose to leave the university to pursue study elsewhere or abandon higher education altogether.

When London Met’s status was originally revoked in August, thousands of students’ course places were at risk.

The university was then allowed to carry on teaching affected students until they graduated or until the end of the academic year in summer 2013 and about 1,000 students have since graduated, leaving 1,385 to make their choice.

The number of law students who have chosen to leave is not yet known.

Dr Cliff Snaith, LLM course leader and secretary of the University and College Union’s London Met branch told Lawyer 2B that he doubted that as many as 55% of law students affected had chosen to leave the university, saying: “Obviously there is impact but equally I know many students who have stayed.

“One general additional factor which is obviously going to influence international students… is the conditions under which they can stay because they haven’t been given a commitment that they can stay and complete their degree, only that they can stay and complete the year. And that’s got nothing to do with the institutional reputation of London Met but practical realities.

“I’ve spoken to a few students who have left because they will ask me for a reference which I have a professional obligation to give them, but again, we will try and persuade them to stay.”

This follows news that London Met has been granted permission to apply for judicial review of the UK Border Agency’s decision to revoke its trusted sponsor status. (21 September 2012)