Glyndwr faces continued student visa restrictions after review

The institution will continue to be allowed to enrol only limited numbers of overseas learners at its Wrexham campus, with the closure of its London site going ahead at the end of this academic year as planned.

However, Glyndwr said that it was in “positive dialogue” with UK Visas and Immigration over the opening of a new London campus.

Times Higher Education understands that a small increase in the number of overseas students allowed in Wrexham, previously set at 100, will be permitted.

Glyndwr’s licence to recruit international students had been suspended in June last year, amid allegations that hundreds of its students held “invalid” or “questionable” English language qualifications.

The licence was restored in November, but on condition that the university relinquished the lease on its current London campus in Elephant and Castle.

Another condition was the recently concluded review, which included unannounced inspections of the Wrexham and London campuses.

A university spokesman said: “Glyndwr University continues to work positively with the UKVI and has been informed that the audit process conducted in January has not highlighted any further significant issues.

“The university has already announced it will be withdrawing from its current London campus and is working to find an alternative location. The university will continue to engage in positive dialogue with the UKVI on this issue.”

A Home Office spokesman added: “Glyndwr has improved the compliance of its London campus but its performance will continue to be subject to close monitoring in the coming months.”

In a separate development, The Times disclosed details of a Home Office investigation which reportedly found that “significant numbers” of students at universities’ London campuses earned more than £15,000 a year, apparently in breach of rules which limit people on student visas to 20 hours of work a week.

One “student” was allegedly paid £36,500 for a full-time job in the care sector.

New rules which are being introduced will require branch campuses to be run as an integrated part of a university, with the same admissions procedures and teaching standards.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com