UK broadcasting corporation the BBC claims it has exposed an immigration scam used by those seeking UK visas, based around a private college awarding MBA degrees validated by the University of Wales.
BBC undercover footage suggests that Rayat London College’s students were offered the opportunity to apply for a fast-track MBA program, on the back of fraudulently obtained qualifications which would make it appear as though a student has already completed two-thirds of the MBA program prior to applying.
A document for Rayat London College staff use, seen by TopMBA.com shows the course fees for international MBA students enrolling on a “Masters of Business Administration with Credit Transfer Entry” course to be £3,950 (US$6,086).
Covert filming
In covert-filming for BBC One Wales documentary Week In Week Out, Surya Medicherla, a lecturer at the Rayat London College, appears to give his students advice on cheating in exams and deceiving the UK Border Agency (UKBA).
“In some corners of your heart you are so happy because you are not studying anything but you are getting your PGD [postgraduate diploma],” Medicherla tells students.
“You are not really bothered about what you are going to write but these things will in future prove very costly so at least remember the subjects.
“Just please be careful, just getting the PSW [post-study work visa] does not mean that we have fooled the UKBA - no, they are quite intelligent - they are more intelligent than what we are.”
‘Fraud’
The BBC claims the program has evidence that the scam would involve students taking exams where they would be able to cheat in order to complete what should be a 15-month long MBA program in under a week. This includes plans to offer students advanced sight of an official University of Wales examination.
The short completion time on the program would then allow for non-EU students to apply for PSW visas prior to the visa-rules being changed in April 2012.
Speaking to the BBC, UK Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "It's fraud - it's clearly trying to create and exploit a loophole in the immigration system.
"If people are committing scams then they should be worried - we're after them."
While denying any wrong-doing, Rayat London College’s registrar Irvin Harris was suspended by the institution on Monday, before deciding to resign the following day. Two other members of staff have also been suspended.
On being made aware of the claims, the University of Wales (UoW) who validated the MBA program at the London-based private college, referred the allegations to South Wales Police. It is not alleged that UoW had any knowledge of the issuing of fraudulent degrees prior to the BBC’s investigation.
Speaking to the UK Press Association, a UoW spokesman explained: “the information includes allegations that overseas students have been helped to cheat their way on to programs of study and to mislead educational establishments, including the University of Wales, and the UK Border Agency.”
“As the matter has been referred to the police, it would be inappropriate for the university to comment further at this stage.”
On Monday 3rd October, the UoW’s new vice chancellor announced that the institution would cease validating degrees from external institutions, with effect from the start of the 2012 academic year. Validating the degrees of external institutions was a practice that helped the UoW become the UK’s second largest degree-awarding body, with around 70,000 students at 130 partner colleges around the world.
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