Nigerian PhD student Sue Agazie achieved a rare partial victory last week in her complaint against Newcastle University, shedding light on the struggles faced by international students in UK universities.
Sue, whose studies were interrupted by kidney failure and a strained relationship with her supervisor, received a refund of her tuition fees and £5,000 in compensation after Newcastle admitted to mishandling aspects of her case.
The compensation is well deserved. Newcastle acknowledged that the “breakdown in the supervisor/supervisee relationship” happened during a period when there was no second supervisor in place. Additionally, the university recognized the financial pressures Sue faced, including balancing tuition fees and accommodation costs, which contributed to her anxiety.
Sue’s ordeal mirrors that of Egyptian postgraduate student Riham Sheble, who was awarded £12,000 in compensation in 2022 after the University of Warwick denied her an extension to complete her program while undergoing cancer treatment.
In both cases, racialized disabled women endured protracted and stressful complaint processes while battling severe health conditions. Their visa statuses—and, critically, their access to life-saving healthcare—were jeopardized during these drawn-out disputes. Both women were supported by Unis Resist Border Controls (URBC), an advocacy group addressing the systemic mistreatment of migrant students in UK universities.
URBC’s founder shared that their own battle with a UK university’s complaint system inspired the organization. They also conducted a study interviewing migrant Black and ethnic minority university staff and students. The findings revealed pervasive institutional racism and xenophobia, coupled with inadequate complaint systems that deterred migrant students from reporting abusive supervision due to fears of visa repercussions.
For example, Oxford postgraduate student Lakshmi Balakrishnan alleged she was “forcibly transferred” from a DPhil to a master’s program. Her complaint was rejected by the Office for the Independent Adjudicator in October, leading her to claim that Oxford intentionally prolonged the process to exhaust her into giving up. Many academics dismissed her as a privileged individual unwilling to accept failure, ignoring evidence of her academic capability.
This dismissive attitude reflects a broader culture in UK academia that trivializes or ignores migrant students’ challenges, especially those from non-elite institutions. Nigerian students affected by the naira’s collapse earlier this year exemplify this neglect. Many were withdrawn from their courses and had their visas curtailed when they struggled to pay remaining tuition fees. Protests at universities like Teesside and Manchester Metropolitan went largely unanswered, with affected students locked out of virtual learning environments, leaving them unable to access essential support services.
The UK higher education sector must address these systemic failures. Rising visa charges, International Health Surcharge (IHS) fees, and racial discrimination have already made the UK a less attractive destination for international students. With other countries, including China and Russia, offering English-language programs at more affordable rates, the UK risks losing its competitive edge.
Migrant students contribute significantly to the UK’s higher education sector and economy. Ignoring their legitimate grievances will only accelerate their departure to more welcoming destinations, deepening the financial crisis facing UK universities. The time for reform is now.
