A HOME Office immigration probe is underway after 43 international students "disappeared" from the University of York.

New figures show the students vanished after arriving in the country over the last three years.

The 43 quit their courses and failed to tell university officials - but only after accepting visas which gave them permission to live in the UK.

The students all failed to inform the university they were terminating their courses, and the institution now has no idea whether they stayed on in this country.

York MP Hugh Bayley called on the university to do "everything it can" to prevent the problem recurring.

The statistics came to light after a Freedom Of Information Act request put to the university by student newspaper York Vision.

A Home Office consultation has now taken place on whether it would be possible to compile more data on people entering the UK on student visas but then not pursuing their studies.

Last year, non-EU overseas students contributed more than £13 million to University of York coffers.

A university spokesman said: "If any student fails to complete their studies, it is a matter of concern for the university. But the number of international students in York who fail to complete their studies and do not inform the university is relatively small."

In total, 322 foreign students left the university in the last three years, but 279 of them told the university where they were going.

The Government currently allows students access to the UK if they are studying a degree course, giving them use of a Student Visa.

In 2004, the Home Office passed regulations under the then Home Secretary, David Blunkett, which forced universities to send figures of students abusing the immigration system.

The university spokesman said: "There has been an upward trend in recent years nationally, reflected to some extent in the university figures. The Government is proposing new regulations linking visas to study at specific institutions."

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "Where a student fails to attend their course, the institution can provide details of the student to the Border And Immigration Agency by means of a dedicated email address.

"On receipt of these details, the student will be sent a letter to their last known address to ascertain their intentions.

"Where it is established the student no longer meets the requirements of the student rules, the Border And Immigration Agency will curtail their leave to stay in the UK. Under the points based system, there will be a clearer link between the student's leave and the institution. There will also be a mandatory requirement on institutions to report non-attendance of their students."

Mr Bayley said: "The university needs to do everything it can to prevent this happening, because it would be a tragedy if the vast majority of students from abroad who wish to study here were prevented from doing so because a minority misuse their visas."


Union in equality debate

THE Press spoke to the students' union at the University of York to find out whether it could shed any light on why the 43 international students might have gone missing.

Michael Batula, a racial equality officer at the union, said he did not think problems with integration were responsible for the disappearances.

He said: "I would say, from our experiences and those of the wider student population, there are certainly not any racial undertones at the university.

"The students' union at the moment is working very closely with the university to ensure all students - particularly internationals who my find it difficult - feel integrated into the university.

"Not only on a college level but campus-wide, new initiatives are being taken to make students from any background feel comfortable in the university environment.

"The recently held international week was a testament to this.

"Ethnically diverse students from all over campus came together to educate and show pride in their origins, as well as, more importantly, to enjoy each other's cultures."


Foreign students missing from the University of York

* In 2003/4, a total of 30 students were assumed to have withdrawn and were written off.

* In 2004/5, a total of seven students were either assumed to have withdrawn and were written off, or failed to respond following leave of absence.

* In 2005/6, a total of six students were either assumed to have withdrawn and written off, or failed to respond following leave of absence.