International students have been told by a High Court judge they can
temporarily continue their studies at London Metropolitan University.
The announcement came as the higher education institution in North
London was granted permission to pursue a judicial review into the UK
Border Agency's (UKBA) decision. In August, London Met Uni's licence to
recruit overseas students was revoked, meaning more than 2,600 overseas
students faced being sent home.In another victory for the international students, the National Union of Students (NUS) was given the go ahead to launch an independent intervention on behalf of those studying at London Met Uni
.
Around 40 students gathered outside 10 Downing Street on 30 August to hold a silent protest to signify having no voice
Mr Justice Irwin granted interim relief to the students who are
already enrolled and those who are due to start this September to allow
them to continue their studies at the university, pending resolution of
the case.
In his ruling, he said: "It seems to me that the balance of
convenience in this case does not favour a restoration which may well be
temporary as that will involve new populations of students being
brought into the university and engaging in courses of study which may
not then be able to be completed."
A final decision on whether the students will be able to finish their course will be made at 4pm on Friday.
Salima Mawji, director at Match Solicitors, a legal service
specialising in education law, told The Huffington Post UK students may
be able to pursue their own legal challenges, due to the way they had
been treated.
"It is only right and proper that the court deals with this
application swiftly and makes a decision based on legal argument as the
impact on international students is immense.
"The real victims in the current scenario are students who have spent
thousands of pounds seeking a British education, only to be told that
the institution that they placed their trust and reliance on, has let
them down."
She added: "Students know that the decision of the court will either
make their degree or break it. Either way, it is clear that the
disruption and uncertainty will also count for something for students
and legal challenges may still be available as a result of the distress
this situation has caused."