UK Universities Accused of Admitting International Students with Insufficient English, BBC Investigation Reveals

An Iranian student, identified as Yasmin (a pseudonym), pursued a master’s degree at a recently established UK university. She expressed being “shocked” by the discovery that many of her classmates possessed inadequate English language skills, with only a small number, one or two, being British. She conveyed to BBC File on 4, “How is it possible to continue this coursework without understanding a British accent or English properly?” Yasmin further elaborated that the majority of students engaged others to complete their assignments, and some also compensated individuals to record their presence at lectures. Her observations highlight an increasing apprehension. The University and College Union (UCU) asserts that certain academic establishments are disregarding language proficiency to attract substantial fees from international students. Furthermore, a professor reported that 70% of his recent master’s students demonstrated insufficient English. Universities UK, an organization representing 141 institutions, refutes these allegations, stating that stringent language prerequisites are in place for international applicants. Jo Grady of the UCU, which represents 120,000 lecturers and university staff, indicated that it is widely known that students with limited English proficiency manage to gain entry to study in the UK. She stated, “When we speak to members we hear about the tricks that are pulled in order to have people pass the relevant language test and get on to courses.” Rose Stephenson from the Higher Education Policy Institute, an independent think tank, noted that approximately seven out of 10 students enrolled in master’s programs in England are now international students, a proportion significantly greater than in other higher education courses. In England, tuition fees for undergraduate domestic students at universities are capped at £9,250, increasing to £9,535 annually by 2025-26. The other nations within the UK establish their own fee structures. However, there is no maximum limit on fees for international students pursuing studies in England. Ms Stephenson commented, “You can charge a foreign student as much as they’re willing to pay.” Similarly, postgraduate fees are not subject to caps, meaning a master’s degree at a prestigious university could incur costs of £50,000. Ms Stephenson explained that due to undergraduate tuition fees for domestic students in England failing to keep pace with inflation, university funding has experienced a real-terms reduction. Consequently, international students are effectively subsidising the below-cost fees paid by domestic students. A whistleblower, formerly employed by an education provider that prepares international students for university, disclosed that agents would target affluent families overseas. The whistleblower, who had previously shared information with the Sunday Times, stated: “We knew that those universities are increasingly desperate and would go along with our plans without much scrutiny into how those students were being found.” They added, “No independent party is looking at the grades or the examinations. It’s the Wild West, in a way.” This whistleblower was employed by Study Group, one of numerous providers that supply students to the UK university system and collect fees from them. Study Group, a registered provider based in the UK, states that it collaborates with over 50 universities and operates a network of 3,500 agents across 99 countries. Study Group vehemently contests the whistleblower’s assertions, maintaining that international students secure their positions based on merit. The organization further states that universities, not Study Group, make all admission decisions for courses, and it denies any claims that entry criteria are disregarded for any reason. It affirms that the courses it manages are rigorously “scrutinised by partner universities.” Yasmin paid £16,000 for her international finance course at a university located in southern England. She subsequently discovered that among the 100 students in most of her modules, “maybe 80 or 90 of them bought assignments” from “essay mills” operating abroad. In England, it is a criminal offense to complete academic work for a student to submit as their own. When Yasmin informed her tutor of these activities, no measures were taken. Yasmin now expresses that her master’s degree feels “devalued.” An anonymous professor from a Russell Group university, who has taught at multiple institutions, reiterated Yasmin’s concerns. He informed File on 4 that 70% of his master’s degree students over the last five years lacked adequate English language proficiency for their courses. He stated, “There have certainly been occasions when very simple questions have not been able to be understood by students who I am teaching.” The professor indicated that he has been compelled to modify his teaching methods, noting that students even utilize translation applications during lessons. However, he maintained that the responsibility does not rest with the international students themselves, who are largely making their best efforts, and added that the situation differs across various subjects. He explained that students pass because courses are frequently evaluated via assignments rather than examinations. Some students resort to essay mills, paying others to produce their work, or increasingly, employ artificial intelligence (AI). He noted that both these approaches can circumvent existing anti-plagiarism software. Jo Grady of the UCU commented that it is unsurprising that some students with inadequate English skills feel compelled to seek assistance from others or even use AI for their assignments, describing it as an “act of desperation.” She stated that her members inform their managers that admitting students without strong English “is a bad idea… they will struggle, and we will also struggle to teach them.” Nevertheless, she observed that “university managers and leaders pursue it regardless, because of the money and income it will bring in.” Ms Grady asserted that some universities are facing financial difficulties and have grown reliant on international students who pay substantial fees, describing these as “eye-watering sums of money.” She concluded, “Institutions are chasing money. They’re not necessarily chasing the best candidates. And it’s a corruption of what higher education should be.” Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, dismissed the notion that some international students are admitted to courses with inadequate English language skills primarily to increase revenue. She affirmed that universities conduct rigorous checks on all enrolled students, including adherence to minimum language levels mandated by the UK government. She stated, “Students will need to be able to afford the fee to study in the UK, but beyond that it’s a question of taking students who apply, and applying a merit-based criteria.” She emphasized, “It is absolutely central that this is a system that people trust.” Ms Stern further commented that international students are drawn by the caliber of UK universities. She cautioned that it would be “unwise” to depend on international revenue to finance domestic education and research, as the number of overseas students could be influenced by geopolitical events or fluctuations in exchange rates. Concurrently, the enrollment figures for international students are decreasing. Data concerning UK student visa applications from the first six months of the current year indicate a 16% reduction in applications, leading to a revenue shortfall for certain institutions. This decline is partly ascribed to revisions in UK student visa regulations that now prohibit most postgraduate students from bringing dependents. This trend is exacerbating the most severe financial crisis for universities since the initial implementation of fees. Last month, the Office for Students (OfS), the government regulator, projected that by the 2025-26 academic year, 72% of universities might incur expenditures exceeding their income, issuing a warning that “rapid and decisive action is necessary.” The Department for Education informed the BBC that dependence on international students has been recognized as a risk, necessitating many universities to revise their business models. The department further stated that the government is dedicated to carefully managing migration.