London Metropolitan University granted licence to teach foreign students

The original decision to remove the university's licence to teach foreign students, by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) in August, led to headlines across the world of stranded students facing deportation. UCU said the full impact of that incident is yet to be felt.

UCU said UKBA's decision to revoke the licence was a disproportionate reaction to a situation that should have been addressed without the recourse to such drastic action. The union said it was pleased the university had its licence back, but said hundreds of students had faced unnecessary disruption and costs during the last six months.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We are still to fully feel the impact of the damage the UKBA's decision had in terms of our international reputation. Hundreds of students faced a worrying period of insecurity and unnecessary costs as they tried to find somewhere else to study.

'We are of course pleased the university has got its licence back, but feel the UKBA should have taken a less draconian approach and avoided the mess that so many students, the university and our international reputation got caught up in.'