Edinburgh University marking boycott: Frustrated overseas students told to return home to apply for visas

Edinburgh University said those intending to take up places on Masters or PhD courses would be affected

Overseas students at Edinburgh University have been told they may have to return to their home countries to apply for a new visa if they intend to take up places on Masters and PhD courses this autumn, due to an ongoing staff marking boycott.

University bosses said those still waiting for their results will be unable to apply for their next student visa from within the UK, sparking concerns some will face thousands of pounds in travel costs.

However, the Home Office appeared to contradict this, saying students can apply to extend their visa while they wait for their results.

Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

The marking and assessment boycott was launched by the University and College Union at institutions across the UK in April amid a row over staff pay and conditions.

Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine said: “Students who would have otherwise enjoyed a summer in Scotland before moving on to their Masters programme are facing a mad dash back to their home countries that could cost them thousands of pounds in order to apply for a fresh visa. Some are wondering if they will be left unable to take up their studies. All because their universities have failed to deliver their degree certificates on time.”

She added: “Sending them off on a labyrinthine journey to reapply for a fresh visa is clearly ridiculous, and risks jeopardising students’ futures and livelihoods. Ministers, universities and immigration officials need to be having urgent conversations to bring this bizarre and bureaucratic situation to a close and avoid sending all the wrong messages about studying in Scotland.”

An email sent out to students at Edinburgh on Monday reads: “If you are progressing from one programme of study to another or to a higher level of studies such as Masters or Doctoral studies, you are required to meet UKVI's [UK Visas and Immigration] academic progression rule to be able to apply for your next student visa from within the UK before the expiry of your current student visa permission.

“This means you must have successfully achieved an award for your most recent programme of study in the UK. The UKVI has not put in any concessions in place enabling students to apply for a student visa from within the UK for their further studies if they have had their award decision deferred due to the marking and assessment boycott. If your award decision has been deferred due to missing or delayed results, you will be required to return to your home country and obtain another student visa from outside the UK before starting your new programme.”

Will Scheffler, from Wisconsin, has just finished his final year at Edinburgh and has an offer to study a Masters in Applied Social Data Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) from the end of September.

However, the 21-year-old is concerned he now faces paying around £1,000 to fly back to the US to reapply for a visa. He said he felt “hung out to dry” and described the situation as “really frustrating”.

A spokesman for Edinburgh University said: “The marking and assessment boycott is a sector-wide issue and we recognise that many students across the UK are experiencing delays in receiving their final degree results. We want to reassure those applying for further study with us that we will support them in relation to the impact the industrial action may have on their success within their chosen programme. Our student immigration service is available to support students with their visa applications.”

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Students who do not know when they will receive their results due to the marking and assessment boycott will be able to apply to extend their permission while they wait for their results.”