Thousands of international students offered postgraduate places at UK universities last year made false claims about their qualifications, according to a leading verification consultancy.

Nearly 5 per cent of the 55,000 applicants offered places at a sample of 45 UK higher education institutions analysed by the company Qualification Check in 2024-25 did not receive the prior grades or degrees that they cited in their applications.

Many others among the UK’s roughly 150 universities did not even conduct detailed checks to verify qualifications at a time of growing scope to fabricate online certifications using digital technology, it said.

The figures will spark fresh concerns at a time when the higher education sector’s reliance on international students is under increased scrutiny and immigration rules are being tightened. This month, the government has raised the vetting standards required of universities to sponsor student visas.

“We’re seeing similar levels of fraud in higher education as in regulated industries like financial services,” said Ed Hall, chief executive of Qualification Check.

“Universities have traditionally done checks that aren’t robust. If we want to protect the sector’s reputation, we need to ensure we are getting the best quality students.”

Hall stressed the importance of universities verifying information directly with the institutions from which students claimed to have graduated.

“There is a lack of knowledge about how to do robust verification,...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMicEFVX3lxTFA2WWdGMzZLX2ZaUkcyZ1pnaEZB...