1,500 university students face visa inquiry

About 1,500 foreign students risk being deported after they were reported to immigration officials over alleged visa irregularities.

The figures, obtained via a Freedom of Information request by the pressure group Manifesto Club, have prompted claims that universities are being "overzealous" in reporting students to the UK Border Agency. The Club says most referrals were based on "ill-founded suspicions". It claims academics are being put off from coming to the UK.

Universities denied they are being overzealous. Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said they took their responsibilities seriously and "must meet a range of obligations set out by the UK Border Agency".