Between 2021 and 2023, over 1,425 international students who had secured admission to UK universities were denied entry at UK airports, according to data from the UK Home Office.
Among those affected, 161 were Nigerians, making up 11.3% of the total. Indian students were the most affected, with 644 cases, accounting for 45% of the denials. Ghana followed Nigeria with 92 students (6.46%) denied entry, and Bangladesh with 90 students (6.32%).
The data, covering October 2021 to October 2023, reveals a troubling trend for international students from Nigeria, India, Ghana, and Bangladesh. While the UK Home Office did not specify the exact reasons for the denials, common issues included students’ failure to satisfy Border Force officers, presenting forged documents, and deficiencies in English language proficiency. This occurred despite the students having secured admission and visas.
The report does not include those deported for other reasons, such as exceeding the permitted 20-hour work limit or academic misconduct.
Criticism has been directed at the Border Force officers, with immigration lawyer Dele Olawanle condemning their actions. He argued that questioning students on academic matters should be the role of university officials, not Border Force officers, and described cases where students had their visas cancelled after failing to answer questions about their courses adequately, despite prior vetting by universities.
Nigerian data analyst Nelly Okechukwu also shared his experience, revealing how he narrowly avoided denial after being questioned about a course he completed over a decade ago.
The report highlights a surge in Nigerian students enrolling in UK universities, with numbers rising from 44,195 in the 2021/2022 academic year to 72,355 in 2022/2023, contributing an estimated £1.9 billion to the UK economy in the 2021/2022 academic session.
