Sussex university students warned they may not graduate if fees remain unpaid | University of Sussex

Hundreds of students in University of Sussex have been warned that they may not be able to graduate or re-register for the next academic year if they fail to pay outstanding debts.

Among those affected are students from Nigeria and Iran, who are struggling to pay their fees after the value of their currencies collapsed. Other international students, as well as UK students, are also among those in debt.

The university said no students would be suspended from their courses due to unpaid arrears. He also assured students that they will not be pulled out of university accommodation this academic year due to debt.

The development in Sussex came next Nigerian students at Teesside University described last week how they were thrown off their course and ordered to leave the UK when they fell behind on payments.

The university has withdrawn students who have missed their fee installments and informed the Ministry of Home Affairs after the savings of some students were wiped out when the value of the Nigerian currency collapsed.

The university said it had “no choice” as failure to pay was a breach of visa sponsorship rules. He said he has made every effort to help affected students, including individual payment plans.

An unnamed Nigerian student in Sussex who has outstanding debts said: “We have no intention of defaulting, we are ready to meet our obligations but we are pleading with the university to give us some time.

“Since the exchange rate has trebled, my monthly income of £800 is barely enough to cover the weekly accommodation of £182, leaving me struggling to survive as a student in Brighton.”

The University of Sussex’s Students’ Union said an earlier email from the university said the debts had to be cleared by the end of May and warned affected students that the university may have to take action to recover them otherwise. “withdrew” from the university.

Some students were also denied access to IT, but in a follow-up letter to students struggling to pay off their debts, the university assured them it would not happen again this academic cycle.

The letter from Prof Kate O’Riordan, the university’s vice-chancellor, said: “Students expecting to graduate in July 2024 or January 2025 will need to settle their tuition fee debt before to graduate. Students who expect to return in the following academic year will not be able to re-register with outstanding tuition fee liabilities.

“Student debt is an issue that all universities face and the university is as flexible as possible, offering welfare and other support to students and indicating the financial support available. All students still in debt will receive another email next week with more information on next steps.”

O’Riordan said the current level of unpaid fees was at least five times what the university had seen before, and she said the problem was affecting other UK institutions.

She said: “What we call the cost of living crisis for home students and a kind of global financial crisis in other countries are coming together in a way that has not been seen before.”

Riko Kunisue, international student officer at Sussex Students’ Union, said: “Students are under enormous fear and stress at the moment, with lots of juggling grades, multiple jobs and caring responsibilities. The university must take steps to reduce the financial pressures on all students – especially international students.”