An economic crash in Nigeria left international students in the United Kingdom [UK] struggling to afford tuition fees, with some at Teesside University blocked from their studies and ordered to return home.
Manager Debbie Fixter said 75% of clients at Thornaby’s
Sprouts Community Food Charity (SCFC) were affected students and the situation
had pushed it to “maximum capacity”.
The university said it was providing support and
international applicants must provide evidence of sufficient funds when
applying for a visa.
SCFC organises a range of activities and offers food for
free or at low cost, along with clothes and household items.
Over the course of recent months, the charity said its
clientele had noticeably changed with the majority of those visiting being
Nigerian masters degree students from Teesside University.
Nigeria is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis
in a generation, with the value of the naira depreciating by more than 200%
against the dollar in the past 12 months.
As a result, students at UK universities have seen their
savings wiped out and budgets suddenly and significantly reduced, leaving them
struggling to afford the cost of living.
Some have subsequently been ordered to leave the UK after
struggling to pay their tuition fees on time, as reported by the BBC this
month.
But Teesside University continues to recruit students in
Nigeria, according to a spokesman.
‘Part of our community’
An increasing number of students who come to the UK are
turning to community charities and organisations for much-needed help,
according to SCFC manager Ms Fixter.
“They’re really struggling, they need help and they’re part
of our community,” she said.
Client Boluwatife Elusakin said he has had to “dive deep” to
afford the cost of living and studying in the UK.
Nigeria’s economic crisis means he is having to spend double
what he had budgeted.
“Things are no longer the same,” he said.
“I’ve had to cut costs because of the currency crash, it hit
my savings as I’d already budgeted funds to come here.
“It makes me feel sad, but I hope I can endure just one year
and all will be well.”
Ms Fixter said her charity was currently at “maximum
capacity” as a result of the situation and called on Teesside University to
offer more support.
She said the university had so far been proactive and
offered a welcome £500 donation of Sainsbury’s vouchers after being informed of
the situation, but called it a “drop in the ocean” in terms of what was needed
to support the influx of students at the charity.
The university said it worked closely with community
organisations to signpost students back to its own support services and had
provided vouchers and contributions to ensure the organisations could offer
support to students.
“Teesside University remains a popular destination for
students from across the world who choose to study here because of its global
reputation for excellence in teaching and research,” a spokesman added.
“All international applicants need to provide evidence that
they have sufficient funds to cover tuition fees and living costs as part of
the visa application process.”
The university is offering “case by case” support to those
affected by the situation in Nigeria. BBC