Student Faces UK Deportation After University Withdraws Course and Student Visa Sponsorship
Studying in the United Kingdom remains a dream for thousands of international students. However, visa compliance, university attendance requirements, and sponsorship obligations can have serious consequences when disputes arise. A recent case involving a Kerala student studying in the UK has drawn attention to the challenges faced by international students dealing with health issues and visa regulations.
UK University Excludes Kerala Student From Course, Faces Deportation
A student from Kerala studying BSc Pharmaceutical Science at the University of Hertfordshire is to be deported after the university pulled her out of the course for suspected non-attendance, causing the Home Office to withdraw her student visa.
Gayathri said she was challenging the decision, saying she was actively studying on a university-approved Support to Study Action Plan, which allowed her to attend her classes remotely due to a neurological ailment producing non-epileptic seizures. She told The Argus she persisted to attend online sessions, submit projects and take exams despite numerous hospital stays in her second year.
She says she wasn’t warned before being pulled from the course and only discovered it when she logged onto her student profile. The institution then informed the Home Office that it was suspending its visa sponsorship, which resulted to her visa being cancelled from 13 July.
Four university personnel then affirmed in writing that she was engaging with her studies and urged that she be restored, Gayathri said. But the institution has not reversed its decision.
Returning to India would not only risk her degree but also end her ongoing medical treatment in the UK. She says she left India to avoid an unsafe family situation and pressure to enter an arranged marriage. She has funded her studies herself with company revenues, loans and part-time work in a care facility.
East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tom Rutland has taken up her cause, asking for the university to explain why the decision was reached and for a review of protocols impacting students with impairments.
The University of Hertfordshire has offered Gayathri the opportunity to re-do her second year from September 2026, but has not yet granted the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) she needs to apply for a new student visa. Without it she fears losing her visa, her degree and her right to live in the UK.
The university said it takes the allegations seriously and is investigating the problem, but declined additional comment owing to privacy laws.
Impact on International Students in the UK
The case highlights the importance of attendance monitoring, student visa sponsorship compliance, and communication between universities and international students. For students facing medical challenges, approved support plans and proper documentation play a crucial role in maintaining academic status and visa eligibility.
Universities that sponsor international students are required to report significant changes in student engagement to the UK Home Office. Such reports can directly affect visa status, making timely communication and support essential for students facing exceptional circumstances.
Conclusion
The situation involving Gayathri has sparked wider discussions about student welfare, disability accommodations, visa sponsorship responsibilities, and the treatment of international students in the UK. As investigations continue, the outcome may have broader implications for how universities manage cases involving health-related attendance issues and student visa compliance.