Growing numbers of Nigerian students in the UK are caught in a financial crisis due to the country's plummeting currency, putting their studies and visas at risk - which might affect student landlords.
The situation came to light after master’s students at Teesside University were blocked from their courses and reported to the Home Office for late tuition payments.
The university says this is a breach of visa sponsorship rules, while students say they were misled about payment schedules and are struggling due to the economic situation in Nigeria.
That led to the Nigerian government intervening after reports of students feeling suicidal and facing deportation.
An ambassadorial delegation is set to meet with Teesside University to address 'allegations of unfair and unjust deportation orders'.
International students struggling to budget
The currency crisis has seen savings being wiped out and international students struggling to budget in several countries.
One food charity in Stockton says that 75% of its clients are now Nigerian students who are struggling financially.
The BBC also reports that students who were trying to juggle several jobs to pay their tuition fees are limited by the number of hours they can work legally.
Once removed from their course, the university notified UK Visas and Immigration which then told the students they had 60 days to leave the country.
Teesside University has apologised, and a spokesperson said the affected students have been offered meetings with specialist staff and mental health support.
Also, the university has found solutions to support students to complete their courses.
Universities UK said other countries, including Iran, were also struggling with currency devaluation.
A spokesperson said: "In these very difficult circumstances for students, universities have sought to work with students to understand their circumstances and provide what assistance they can.
"However, visa and immigration rules do mean that, unfortunately, universities may need to withdraw sponsorship where a student is unable to complete their studies – though this is always a last resort."
The challenges faced by international students
The crisis highlights the challenges faced by international students during economic downturns in their home countries.
Some universities, such as the University of Sussex, have committed to finding solutions for struggling students.
There are fears that the situation could deter future Nigerian students from choosing UK universities.
Yemi Soile, head of the Nigerian Students Union UK, accused Teesside University of failing in its duty of care towards students.
The union is also urging universities to show 'justice and fairness' towards affected students.
It also revealed that more than 1,000 students had been warned in April of being withdrawn from courses if they didn't pay their tuition fees.
The number of international students
According to Universities UK, using figures from UCAS, ONS, HESA and the Home Office, the number of international students heading to the UK has fallen.
It says that in 2021-22, there were 679,970 international students arriving for studies - 120,140 of these came from the EU and 559,825 were non-EU.
However, in the year ending March 2024, there were 446,924 sponsored study visas and 139,175 graduate route visas granted to main applicants.
A change to immigration rules that now prevent an overseas student from bringing family members with them will also affect applications.
In a survey of 73 universities by Universities UK, international enrolments in January - which mainly consists of postgraduate applicants - had fallen by 44%.
Also, a rise in visa fees has had an impact.
The biggest falls were seen in applications from Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India.
International students have benefited student landlords
The managing director of Accommodation for Students, Simon Thompson, said: "While international students have benefited universities and student landlords, this situation shows how precarious things can be.
"There will be Nigerian students who will struggle to pay their tuition fees and, no doubt, their rent too.
"The currency crisis impacting Nigerian and other students is a stark reminder of the potential financial difficulties international students can face."
He added: "Landlords with international student tenants may want to consider flexible payment options or be prepared to offer additional support during times of hardship."
