International students are facing numerous barriers to reaching the UK in time for the September semester despite the country鈥檚 borders being open and universities welcoming students on to campuses, 小瓢虫传媒 has learned.
Problems remain with visa application centre processing, government restrictions on travel, availability of flights and difficulties with getting , according to the .听
鈥淯UKi are aware of issues with VAC capacity in certain countries鈥�
Now UK universities and advocacy groups are trying to make provision for those international students who are unable to reach the country in time for the new semester.听
鈥淯UKi are aware of issues with VAC capacity in certain countries, and we have raised these with UKVI,鈥� a spokesperson for told 小瓢虫传媒.听
鈥淲e have also been working with the government on several Covid-19 concessions to support students who may end up having difficulty obtaining a visa,鈥� they added.
The spokesperson said that these concessions include allowing students to attend different VACs if their local one is closed and enabling students to apply for a replacement visa with revised validity dates free of charge until the end of this year.听
鈥淸Other measures include] allowing students the option to start courses online before travelling to the UK at a later date,鈥� the spokesperson added.
A spokesperson for said that they are aware of some issues with a lack of availability of appointments for visa applications, particularly for some African countries and some areas of the Caribbean.听
鈥淭his has been compounded by the fact that premium visa appointments are not being offered anywhere in the world.
鈥淲e would welcome updates from UKVI about visa appointment availability,鈥� they added.听
about how the closure of VACs would affect the mobility of international students were voiced earlier this year, when director of UUKi, Vivienne Stern, warned there was 鈥渁bsolutely a risk that students won鈥檛 be able to get to the UK鈥�.听
In June stakeholders expressed 聽as the UK鈥檚 centres around the world started to process visas again.
However, an created by the British Council shows that in many countries around the world, VACs are either closed or not in full operation.听
Source: British Council
The map also shows that there are other obstacles that are preventing students from travelling to their study destinations.听
鈥淭here are some issues with visa application centres, but there are also a number of other barriers facing international students,鈥� Maddalaine Ansell, director Education at British Council told 小瓢虫传媒.听聽
鈥淥ur global heatmap showed that government restrictions on travel, availability of flights and difficulties with getting tuberculosis appointments are also preventing international students from travelling.听
鈥淭he British Council is looking into all the challenges to inward mobility presented by Covid-19 to support the UK education sector and to ensure the UK retains its highly competitive position as the second most popular study destination.鈥�
鈥淪tudents can request to commence their studies remotely where necessary鈥�
Many UK universities have been preparing to for the academic year, and are allowing international students on to campuses. However, provision is being made for those students who are prevented from travelling.听
The which has 18,000 international students has adopted a flexible approach which allows students to enrol online and commence their studies from their home country in case of any delay in their visa applications, a UCL spokesperson told 小瓢虫传媒.听
The University of Nottingham is also trying to be as 鈥渇lexible as possible鈥� to deal with students who experience flight delays, cancellations or other travel restrictions.
鈥淪tudents can request to commence their studies remotely where necessary. Our welcome information for international students can be found ,鈥� a University of Nottingham spokesperson explained.听
小瓢虫传媒 contacted UKVI for comment but did not receive a reply at the time of publication.
