BBC随身英语:Student visa chaos 英国学生签证混乱

The UK Border Agency made this controversial decision after it found that London Metropolitan University has not taken adequate measures to ensure applicants are genuine students. It claims that more than a quarter of the 101 students sampled have no right to remain in the UK and that there isn't proper evidence to show students have reached a satisfactory level of English. It says there are also attendance monitoring issues, which means it is impossible to know whether students are turning up for lectures.

The UK Border Agency's decision has been widely criticised for damaging the reputation of the UK's universities and disrupting legitimate students. Donna Marie Winstanley, from Hong Kong, doesn't know whether she'll be allowed to finish her university course: "If you have studied in London, you are more likely to get a better job in Asia. (…) I've already paid around ￡16,000 in fees and was preparing to pay just over ￡8,000 for this year's fees."

MPs have called on Immigration Minister Damian Green to allow existing students to finish their degree courses, but Mr Green said he would "enforce the rules". Some prioritise a crackdown on illegal immigration while others think current students should be allowed to stay: which school of thought do you subscribe to?

Quiz 测验 1. True, false, or not given? Hundreds of students have to leave the UK or find a course at another institution.

False. Thousands of students (up to 2,700) have to leave the UK or find a course at another institution.

2. Find two verbs in the article that mean 'to take away'.

To strip of, to revoke.

3. What did the UK Border Agency decide to do?

The UK Border Agency decided to revoke London Metropolitan University's licence to recruit overseas students.

4. Why is this decision controversial?

Some people disagree with the decision and think current students should be allowed to finish their courses. They also think this will damage the reputation of the UK's universities.

5. Which word in the article means 'a strict enforcement of rules'?

A crackdown.

Glossary 词汇表 degree courses大学课程 overseas students海外学生 to strip of取消 to recruit招收，招聘 a licence一个执照 to revoke撤销，废除 an applicant一名申请人 genuine真正的 to sample采样本 satisfactory满意的 attendance monitoring考勤，出勤率考察 to turn up出席 a lecture一堂讲座 legitimate合法的 fees费用 crackdown镇压 school of thought思想学派