A Nigerian student with stage five kidney disease, Sue Agazie, is facing expulsion from the UK for not paying her PhD fees, according to the BBC.
Agazie, an international student at Newcastle University, has been told that she, along with her six-year-old child and husband who came to the UK as her dependents, must leave the UK by 20 July 2024 or make a new application to stay.
According to reports, Agazie was diagnosed with the disease in September 2023, which means her kidneys are close to or have completely failed.
The student, who is on a waiting list for a kidney transplant, says her inability to pay for high-quality healthcare in Nigeria means being sent back is like a death sentence.
According to the university, all international students are subject to strict Home Office rules, but it would not discuss individual cases.
Agazie is one of two students who made an official complaint over alleged promises made to convince them to study in the UK. She claimed her supervisor promised her funding when she was recruited, which did not happen and therefore resulted in her being unable to pay her fees.
She argued the university did not need to immediately report her to the Home Office as her inability to pay her fees is directly linked to her complaint.
However, the university said it must legally follow sponsor immigration guidance, informing United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) of certain changes.
“I have to check my blood pressure almost every two or three hours,” said Agazie, who is facing over £2,000 of debt for her university accommodation and is using food banks.
She accused the university of not taking her disability seriously and being actively hostile to her.
“I’ve been really surprised by the way the university has treated me. This is not what we were told – it is not the way British universities are sold to us in our country. The university is meant to protect and support me.”
A university spokesperson said throughout the process, the school offers additional support to their students through their Student Health and Wellbeing Service.
Meanwhile, it is gathered that the university is currently investigating Agazie’s complaint.
