Between 2021 and 2023, over 1,425 international students with confirmed admissions to UK universities were denied entry at UK airports, according to data from the UK Home Office.
Among those affected, 161 were Nigerian, accounting for 11.3% of the total denials. Indian students were the most impacted, with 644 cases, representing 45% of the denied entries. Other countries with significant numbers of denied students include Ghana, with 92 cases (6.46%), and Bangladesh, with 90 cases (6.32%).
The data, spanning from October 2021 to October 2023, reveals a concerning trend for international students from Nigeria, India, Ghana, and Bangladesh. While the UK Home Office did not specify the precise reasons for the denials, common issues included students’ inability to satisfy Border Force officers during airport checks, presentation of forged documents, and deficiencies in English language proficiency. These denials occurred despite the students having secured both admission and visas to study in the UK.
The data does not encompass international students deported by the Home Office for other reasons, such as working beyond the permitted 20 hours per week or academic misconduct.
This treatment has faced criticism, particularly from immigration lawyer Dele Olawanle, who has condemned the actions of Border Force officers. Olawanle, in a social media post, argued that these officers have overstepped their roles by questioning students on academic matters, which should be the responsibility of university officials. He highlighted cases where students had their visas canceled after failing to adequately answer questions about their courses, despite having been vetted and accepted by their universities.
Nigerian data analyst Nelly Okechukwu shared his own experience, recounting how a Border Force officer questioned him about a course he had completed over a decade earlier. Okechukwu narrowly avoided having his entry denied.
This report emerges amidst a notable increase in Nigerian students enrolling in UK universities. According to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the number of Nigerian students rose from 44,195 in the 2021/2022 academic year to 72,355 in the 2022/2023 academic year.
Nigerian students and their dependents contributed an estimated £1.9 billion to the UK economy in the 2021/2022 academic session, highlighting the substantial economic impact of international students.
