Survey Study on the Hostile Environment in Higher Education

In 2018, Unis Resist Border Controls (URBC) conducted a survey study to understand how the hostile environment policy is practised inside higher education. In the next three days URBC will be posting in-depth pieces examining certain issues from our survey study.

Statistic breakdown:

    • 184 responses.
    • 41% of respondents British nationals
    • 16% other EU
    • 24% Tier 2,
    • 10%, Tier 4
    • 1% Tier 5

Does your university monitor international staff members differently?

    • 26% unaware of whether int. staff monitored differently in their university, i.e. a quarter of respondents have no knowledge of how hostile environment affects their migrant colleagues.
    • Over two thirds (68%) of respondents said they are monitored differently, compared with 32% who said ‘no’/‘not that I’m aware of’

Are non-white international staff & students treated differently?

  • 30% of respondents are unaware of whether non-white staff are treated differently in their university.
  • Of those remaining, 55% said either ‘yes’ they were treated differently or that they ‘probably’ were, compared with 45% who said ‘no’ or ‘not that I’m aware of’.
  • 9% indicated that staff at their university was so overwhelmingly white that they could not answer the question.

Does your university monitor international students members differently?

  • Comparatively few (14%) people didn’t know the answer to this question
  • Excluding ‘Don’t Know’s and ‘Other’s, nearly three quarters (73%) said yes they were monitored differently → obviously a major issue and one that people are more aware of than the surveillance of international staff
  • Quite a few respondents said that monitoring had been intensified across the student body in general, with some suggesting this was intended to make ‘invisible’ the monitoring of Tier 4 students.

Does your university compensate staff for NHS and Visa Fees for university staff?

  • 36% did not know
  • Of those remaining, 52% responded that their university did not offer any help at all, while 34% said their university provided some compensation.
  • Only 12% said their unis covered all costs.

Full Survey Results

What UK University are you employed at?
University position?
Are you British, EU, or Tier 2, Tier 5 staff?
Do you feel non-white international staff are treated differently than white international staff? If so, why?
Does your university monitor international staff members differently than other staff? If so, how?
Does your university compensate international staff members for visa fees? For NHS fees?
Does your university monitor international students any differently than it monitors other students? If so, how?
University of AberdeenLecturerBritishI don't have many poc colleagues. I'm not aware of discriminatory policies, nor of where the barriers are, but levels of representation on staff are clearly problematic within the humanities. Staff are expected to record work commitments in their outlook diary for monitoring purposes and advise line managers of absences from work. noStudents on Tier 4 visas are required to check their email at least once a week, and the importance of attendance at courses is stressed on advisory pages. Students are required to provide a copy of their passport or visa when required to do so.
University of AberdeenProfessorTier 2Not as far as I am aware.We need to bring our passport to HR once per year to check that we have the right to work in the UK.Nothing for the initial visa. The university pays for the first visa renewal for the whole family, including the NHS surcharge. It pays nothing for the application for Indefinite Leave to Remain and nothing for the application for citizenship.The attendance system is the same, but I think international students are pursued more actively if their attendance is poor.
University of the Arts London (London College of Communication)LecturerEUI don’t know I don’t knowI don’t knowIt seems so, all students have to sign registers/tap into electronic registers (this is being piloted right now) and this Is effecting international students more especially it doesn’t work well/reliably and automatic emails are sent out with threatening messages about risking deportation
Bangor UniversityProfBritishnoyes. I thin they have to report to line manager regularlydon't knowyes. Postgrad students are required to meet face to face with their supervisor a minimum of every 3 weeks. Supervisor must log if it is a face to face meeting, email or telephone, and what the nature of the meeting is (there dis a very long list to choose from) on the online surveillance tool. If we don't,we are periodically chased up to comply
Bangor UniversitySenior LecturerBritishNoYes, they must sign an attendance register every 10 working daysI dont knowI dont know
Bangor UniversityPostdocTier 2not that I am aware ofYes. For tier two visa holders (postdoc and lecturer, that I am aware of), the uni has mandatory checkins every 2 weeks (have to physically show up and sign a piece of paper). If the staff member is not in the city at any time, they are supposed to provide a full itinerary of travel, including all contact details.both are compensated up to a £2000 limit (note this does not cover the expenses completely)No, all students are expected to be monitored by active staff reporting presence/absence of every student meeting via an online system.
University of BathPhD Student & Graduate Teaching AssistantBritishI feel that they are. While I rarely notice overt differences, the university is as institutionally prejudiced as anywhere I've ever been. The university participates in the VISA requirements - stamps etc - beyond this I'm personally unaware of staff monitoring Not that I am aware ofMy only personal experience: I am supposed to take student registers and monitor attendance of international and esp lower tier visa students. Informally, this is actually not enforced.[redacted]
University of BathPhD CandidateBritishI have not seen this. Yes. Tier 4 students are limited to 16 hours employment- I think per month? And have to "sign in" to university periodically whereas I do notNot PhD studentsYes see above
Bath SpaReaderBritishNoDon't knowNot sureYes
BirkbeckPostgraduate Research Team LeaderBritishNoDon't knowDon't knowYes - this is for research students - 7 reports during the year confirming student engagement (supervisions) - don't know about taught (MA/BA programmes)
BirkbeckReaderBritishI don't knowI don't knowI don't knowYes - asks their lecturers and supervisors for regular reports on their attendance
BirkbeckAssociate TutorBritishUnsureUnsureUnsureUnsure (I have not been asked to do anything differently)
Birkbeck Lecturer Family of a settled person visa. Not British or EU or on Tier system Not that I know of but I would not be surprised Not that I know ofNo! I wish. Yes, through attendance primarily
BirkbeckLecturerEUNot sureNot sureNot sureYes, I believe by passing information about international students on visas to the home office
BirkbeckSenior LecturerBritishYes. There is a general condescension toward non-white staff.I believe non-British staff must present their passport to HR every three years.I believe this is discretionary, varying between Schools and probably between individual staff members.Yes. International students are called in after they miss three classes. International PhD students must be met by and reported on by their supervisors every term (including the summer), to administration. International students also, in addition to this monitoring, have to take their passports to HR at least every year if not every term. If international students miss three classes, or a supervision, they receive aggressive emails from the university telling them to prepare to be deported.
BirkbeckPostdoctoral ResearcherBritishAs a relatively new white British member of an overwhelmingly white department, I haven't observed any specific examples of non-white international staff being treated differently to white international staff. The international staff in my department are mainly white, which is significant in itself. I'm not aware of any particular constraints on the movements of international staff, though that doesn't mean they don't exist. I know that international colleagues were concerned during the strike that they would be at risk of the university reporting them to the HO for not meeting their visa attendance requirements, but I haven't heard any reports on university statements around this (and in the end the strike was called off before it would have become an issue).Not that I know of.Yes, international students are required to report regularly to the university and often say that it makes them feel stigmatised and belittled.
University of BirminghamLecturerTier 2Not sureYes. At my department, international staff members have to report their "attendance at the university" weekly and get permission / authorized leave for any leave (holiday, conference, fieldwork...), although I've heard the practice varies across different departments.No and noYes. For undergraduate / taught master's students, registers will be used for classes that have international students and year administrators only check if international students have signed enough registers. Personal tutors / supervisors of international students will also be asked occasionally if having seen these students recently (when was the last time seeing them). All phd students are required to fill monthly form after supervision meeting with the supervisors, but again the university's graduate school only cares if international students have done it accordingly because the form is also used for monitoring tier 4 students.
University of BirminghamLecturerBritishNo I don't knowYes; I don't knowYes; as required by the Home Office, monthly contact with students is logged
University of BirminghamLecturerTier 2 (family)I have no evidence that that is the case.Not to my knowledge.No.I am not well placed to answer this. I believe Tier 4 students are required to have regular contact with supervisors and tutors to verify their regular attendance, but I have not been involved in that.
University of BirminghamLecturerTier 2No: immigration status more important. Yes - Tier 2 staff have to 'sign in' once a week (a signature on a paper calendar held by admin staff). Depending on department? I did not see a general policy but negotiated for my Tier 2 fees + NHS fees to be reimbursed in full. However, my Head of Department is extremely helpful/sympathetic. All attendance must be 'in good faith', so all students are monitored. There are separate processes for Tier 4 students in terms of recording (i.e. a specific spreadsheet) but the paperwork/rules are the same for all students when they interact with staff.
University of BirminghamResearch fellowTier 2NoYes, Tier 2 staff report weekly to Departmental officer. NoDon't know
University of BirminghamSenior lecturerBritishNot explicitly but there are no doubt prejudices that play out Depends on department. In some schools there is requirement for non eu staff to report whereabouts on weekly basis, including over summer. This is radically different to treatment of eu staff.Don’t knowTier 4 need to make sure they meet number of contact hours dictated by government. Also tier 4 need to have permission of university to go on trips outside country
University of BrightonLecturerTier 2Well clearly when there are so few non white international staff anyway.
My academic experience and credentials outside the UK are not taken seriously, there is serious prejudice and arrogance, especially if you happen to be a woman!! I get fed up having to demonstrate my qualifications.
Yes, HR runs a Home Office check on my immigration status and asks for my passport No it is in the university policy not to!Yes, PHDs monthly engagement cards (yellow) that should be signed by supervisor and/ or any academic staff with whom an academic activity was undertaken
University of BristolProfessorBritishOne male black colleague had his salary underpaid for a year and struggled to get this recognized or rectified. When he became angry, salaries staff complained that he was "threatening" and he didn't think this would have been the perception of a similar white colleague.I don't think soYes, it does meet visa fees but not as yet the NHS surchargeYes. Teachers are sent a list of their Tier 4 students and asked to confirm that they are engaged and/or "in attendance"
University of BristolHourly paid teacher and PhD student (sociology)British citizenship Yes. There is a culture of racism and sexism that persists at the university, meaning that non white staff, international and non-international alike, and particularly women, are far more at risk of repercussions when they are judged (via procdures that do not account for sex and race bias) to have performed less efficiently than white peers Don’t know Don’t know Yes. Tier 4 compliance paranoia has led to emails being sent out demanding staff record attendance of all international students (specifically). The email contained harsh rhetoric and was not aimed at non-international students. I’m happy to forward a particularly offensive email if it is helpful
University of BristolLecturerTier 2Probably, although I am white and thus can't speak from direct personal experience.Yes, I believe that formally speaking we have to report on "absences" from work, and these reports are for visa monitoring purposes, although it doesn't seem to be strictly enforced.Yes for visa fees, no for NHS fees, in my experience.Yes, I am occasionally asked about the attendance/"engagement" of certain Tier 4 students who are my personal tutees. I don't always have lecture attendance data for these students, but I do know whether they've been to my tutorials. My policy if they miss a tutorial and I'm asked about their attendance is to schedule a meeting with the student, and this seems to count as "engagement" in the view of whoever is doing the monitoring.
University of BristolProfessor British + other countryNot sureNot sureNot sureNot sure
University of BristolReader in [redacted][Redacted] Indefinite Leave to RemainNot in terms of surveillance. But plenty of institutional racism. Not as far as I'm awareNot as far as I'm aware. And as a holder of ILR stamp in expired passport, I'm not supported to either apply for citizenship or to gain biometric card. Following 2014 changes, I can no longer take work in another setting as my stamp is no longer recognised by universities as a legal document (though recognised by everyone else!)Yes - we have monthly engagement reports.
University of CambridgeHourly paid teachingTier 4 (Doctoral Extension Scheme)Yes -- often visa rules for countries that are majority poc are harsher.must tell the university every time address changes and complete a form every three months.Only at a senior level.Yes. Lots of regulations about teaching, forced to intermit PhD if writing up from elsewhere (not the case for UK students), lots of passport scans and forms to fill out.
University of CambridgeSenior LecturerTier 2, now ILRYes, although I am white and have not experienced it directly. But I have witnessed it Yes. Reporting absences including holiday, work travel, sick leave, is conducted differently. There are annual checks on the validity of visas. It depends. For permanent teaching staff, yes, although this also depends on whether you take up the job already holding a UK visa, or if you are coming directly from living abroad. For research staff: if the staff member is paid for by soft money, funds for visas are often dependent on the funder. I understand the University has made moves to offer assistance to all international post-docs, however, as well as for EU members of staff.I don't know.
University of CambridgeTier 4 doctoral studentTier 4 (American)As a white American, I am “privileged” in that I am not as mistreated by the HO as those who are not visibly white. However, the HO own language explicitly discriminates by nationality—those who come from developing (or as the HO puts it, “at risk” countries) are required to submit a higher burden of proof with their visa applications and must register with the police upon arriving in the UK. I knew of a South American student whose university visa compliance officer failed to stamp a form for his first registration and he was targeted by the Home Office as “failing to comply with visa regulations” while facing the termination of his sponsorship by the university and receiving email threats of deportation from the government. He managed to resolve the issue, which stemmed from an administrative mistake, but his mental health took a catastrophic turn and he could never be certain that this “failure to comply” was not marked on his record by the Home Office as his personal failure. I can only speak to my experience as a Tier 4 student, I have no direct knowledge of how the monitoring processes used in my case compare to those used for international staff members.
I think Cambridge has a relatively light touch when it comes to the surveillance and monitoring of Tier 4 students: we are required to appear in person once per term to sign a declaration—some amendments are made for those away on research, and they’re permitted to complete this registration process by email if they explain their extenuating circumstances and provide evidence which justifies that their absence is academic-related. Cambridge isn’t as bad as many other universities, but the light-touch approach can be insidious, because it conceals the surveillance apparatus and the collusion with Home Office behind the relative convenience of this registration process. Like most, if not all, international students, I have no idea what kind of personal data or metadata or information in my student file is sent to the Home Office or collected by the University: the lack of transparency and the deflection to the default position of “we cannot advise on Home Office policy” means that I actually don’t know what the nuts-and-bolts of the working relationship between my university and the Home Office looks like on a day-to-day basis. This uncertainty became especially paralysing during the strikes, where I was always concerned about whether or not my presence on picket lines and vocal support of striking staff would be marked by administrators monitoring the actions of international staff and students in order to report “unauthorised” absences to the Home Office. Despite having been granted a visa and receiving sponsorship from the university, I live in an environment of trepidation and am forced to treat cautiously, unsure of exactly whether or how my advocacy for better working conditions will be cast as a “disruption” to my studies by Home Office regulations and used as grounds to revoke my visa. I live in constant anticipation of nonsensical, draconian, financially devastating, and xenophobic Home Office policy crackdowns, carefully calibrating my conduct in pre-emptive response to the hostile environment.
I don't know of any Tier 4 students who had their visa application fees or NHS fees compensated by the university. Yes--international staff must provide evidence of any research conducted away from the university and seek approval from the uni before undertaking it, as time spent away from the institution is calculated and catalogued. There are severe restrictions on intermitting for health reasons as well, with international students needing to ensure that their time away is curtailed so that it does not conflict with their visa calendar.
University of CambridgePostdoctoral research fellowEUI have heard numerous stories of non-white people being asked to prove that they were employees or students, especially when entering a College or simply walking around in a College. As a white person I am never asked such questions.When I accepted the job I was asked to show my passport. Since I'm an EU citizen that was the end of it, but it was clear that if I wasn't I would subsequently have been asked to prove that I have the right to work in the UK.No, but interest-free loans are offered to help manage the burden of Tier 2 visa fees, and they've recently announced EU staff will be reimbursed by the university for fees associated with applying for settled status after Brexit, as well as retroactively for permanent residence applications filed after June 2016.I don't know.
Cardiff UniversityLecturerTier 2 staffIt's difficult to say because my department only has one non-white member of international staff.Passport check upon arrival to sign employment contract, threat of reporting to Home Office if strike action lasts over 10 daysNo and no.Don't know
De Montfort University Leicester SRCTier 4 Yes Yes N/AYes
De Montfort University Leicester LecturerEUNo, we have a large amount of non white colleagues, with many occupying senior and managerial positionsDon't knowDon't knowSame system (swipe student card).
Durham University PhD student and hourly paid teacherBritishNoI don’t know really. international and UK PhD students have the same weekly cap on teaching but I think international students have to report any planned marking of assessments or cover teaching before they do it, whereas UK students can take the extra work then notify the department Don’t knowDon’t know
Durham University Assistant ProfessorIrish - which will likely mean a different status than EU post-BrexitHard to say, we have so few non-white staff where I am. I have heard that there are incidents of subtle and not so subtle racism.Yes, Tier 2 workers at least need to report when they are out of the country. Visa fees for the individual (not family members), at least for permanent academic positions. Not sure about NHS, but I don't think so. For PhD students, this is mainly around the 20 hours per week they are allowed to work. Paid work hours need to be approved in advance. Until this month, they were not allowed to work on field courses. This has now been changed for the better.
Durham University associate professorTier 2we don't have any non-white int'l staff in my dept 🙁yes, we have to notify department of our int'l travelyes to all, including ILR fees (as of this year)only PhD students to my knowledge
University of East AngliaResearch staffTier 5Not really.Not that I know. I was asked to send a copy of my payslip every month, but then they realized that they actually have those copies (since they pay me).Yes.No idea.
University of East AngliaATTier 4Absolutely. I am aware that several international postgraduate researchers/AT staff of colour have been stopped by campus police and asked for their papers. As a white international student, this has never happened to me. Yes. See next answer.Haha, absolutely not. The result of this is that only members who have at least £1000 on hand may apply for visas. As you can probably imagine, this impacts the university a great deal, as only researchers who have family support or independent wealth may apply. The cost of my DES visa and NHS fees was 1/3 of what I would make in a semester as an AT. Well, yes. Domestic students dont have to report to a massive venue over the course of a two-day window and present their documents. Failure to do so would result in deportation or some other serious censure.
University of EdinburghLecturerTier 2 staffI have not observed this but there are not many non-white international staff.Yes. I have had letters every 6 months that states I need to inform them of changes to my mobile number or address, which seemed normal. At one point, they insisted that we sign this letter and return a copy to HR, then they stopped. I've been more-or-less accused of not being in the office and not informing HR when I was hosting colleagues from outside the UK for a 2-day meeting, which was being held at my institute, and I had booked rooms/catering, and my guests had signed in at 9am and signed out at 5pm. I wasn't at my desk, but I was in the building working. I have had people - not sure whom, but it seems like they are being told to 'check up' on me - inform HR when I am not at my desk without asking me where I am (e.g., I might be at a meeting on another campus), but HR then sends emails saying I must inform them every time I leave my desk. There are also random checks from HR when your name is selected for a check for UK VI and if that happens, HR sends you an 'urgent' email and you must provide them with an on-campus number to ring immediately to prove you are at work. We had a UK VI audit last year where everyone with a visa was required to attend work for a few days in case they were selected for the audit. I have felt very much so like my visa is being held over my head and that I am being held to a higher standard in terms of 'presenteeism' than individuals who are UK nationals, and that if I make a wrong move or do not inform them ahead of time, my job and thus reason for being in the UK might be taken away at any time. It is hostile and has led to lower productivity.Yes, for both.We have to report that they have checked in with their supervisor every few weeks.
University of EdinburghTutorBritishNoDon't know.Don't know.Yes - attendance monitoring seems to be very strict - there is Home Office reporting I believe.
University of EdinburghLecturerTier 2ProbablyThis question is poorly slanted. Don't create needless bureaucracy to monitor local staff out of some misguided sense of fairness. Work to remove the bureaucracy for international staff.
Officially the university requires all staff to enter their location in a calendar. For local staff, this is stupid, widely ignored, and unenforced. For international staff, it's an overly conservative interpretation of the absence monitoring rules. Though it's never happened to me, I've heard it's enforced by randomly e-mailing people to demand they show up at HR if the calendar shows they are work, which doesn't really work if one is at work in an all-day meeting.
For Tier 2 visa + NHS, but they're petty in not paying for ILR or the Post Office biometrics feeYes. They have census points to attend. Undergraduates have tutorial attendance. PhD students have a meeting at the beginning of every month summarized (two sentences) by their supervisor in their record. They have to fill out bureaucratic leave of absence forms even to go to a conference. Internships, even overseas internships, are incredibly painful to arrange and typically have to be short.
University of EdinburghLeverhulme Early Carreer FellowTier 2I don't have enough information to assess thisYes – In my school, I must share my work calendar with the school secretary and have occasional spot checks where I have to call in to my local college from my office phone, if requestedWe are compensated for visa and health surcharge fees for ourselves and our dependants, though as this is paid to us as an income, we are required to pay taxes on them. ILR costs are not covered.yes, there is a census process. Also, some courses have attendance requirements for all students expressly put in place for international student monitoring.
University of EdinburghPart time staff, part time studentTier 2Not on staff but it especially for non white studentsCensus checksNoYes, census check points, increased monitoring of attendance,
University of EdinburghSenior LecturerEUI don't know.I don't know.I don't think so.All students receive the same level of monitoring, but there is greater urgency when international students have been absent, due to their visa requirements.
University of EdinburghSenior LecturerTier 2Yes, much more concern for the rights of (white) EU staff than (BME) non-EU staff in particular post-Brexit.Yes, monitors attendance, does spot checks, have to notify HR every time we’re out of the country.For Tier 2 and NHS now, but does not compensate for (incredibly expensive) indefinite leave to remain feesYes they are required to make a certain number of contact points. PhD students must meet with supervisors monthly.
University of EdinburghProfBritish + other countryThe random spot checks seem to involve non white staff more although uni says they are not the ones picking the staff membersYes, whereabouts checks Initially but not renewal or IKR or family men ersAttendance/engagement checks
University of EdinburghSenior LecturerBritishNoI don’t think so but I am not directly involved.I don’t knowNo we use the same process for all
University of EdinburghResearch Associate Tier 2Not so much in my daily experience, but I do believe that white international staff are more likely to get a job than non-White ones, just based on the proportion of the staff in my university. Yes. Checking on international staff to make sure they haven't run away! Yes, but not for priority services even if you end up having to use it for work purposes. I think international students have to present themselves and their visa to the student office or academic services regularly (maybe once a semester).
University of EdinburghLecturerTier 2I don't have evidence to support this but I would think so. I think so but not sure. I am monitored from time to time to ensure that I am in the office. Yes, but only for non-expedited fees. The reality is that most of the Tier 2s I know are forced to use expedited services as their CoS letters are issued to close to their visa expiry dates. So the compensation of around £700 (which is certainly appreciated) is well short of the total fees of £1250 or more for family members. I am not sure but I dont think so, at least not in the postgraduate area.
University of EdinburghLecturerScottish No, or rather I hope not.I am not sure, i don't line manage any international staff I think so. Not sure.Yes, tier 4 students have additional engagement monitoring.
University of EdinburghReader EUPlease answer above I am not sure. I don't know colleagues who are non-British and non-EU, but I experience unnecessary policing of ALL students, and some time ALL staff, under the excuse that we "need" to police international colleagues and students, and we might as well police everyone, then we don't discriminate!! So instead of ending the policing of internationals, this has inst expanded to everyone, which is very dangerous and we should watch it. We need to be careful about this situation, and how this element of discrimination is manipulated.No, unfortunately my university decided to only cover expenses for EU people's residency settlement. I am not sure what happens with NHS fees. I can imagined that they are not covered Yes! by bothering us the academics when we don't fill registers
University of EssexAcademicBritishStatus vulnerabilities of international staff (irrespective of white/non-white) have been used by management to pressure individuals into giving in to managerial demands (e.g. retroactively changing previously agreed publication targets for probation, bullying of non-white/non-British female members of staff by certain individuals with power); of course, everything in an "informal" manner without due institutional documentation in order to avoid a paper trial (but clearly sanctioned by HR).I am not aware of any formal monitoring of staffNoYes and no. All students are monitored for attendance; meetings reports filed in an online IT database etc. However, academics with pastoral care or supervision responsibilities receive frequent emails reminding them to have and record regular meetings and contact points with international students because of home office requirements. These demands have become more insistent during the last year or two.
University of Glasgow Lecturer I naturalised in January. I was Tier 2 from [REDACTED]I am white so my experience with this is less than limited. Currently not to my knowledge, but until fairly recently I was required to log all my absences from the UK on the uni hr leave system with specifics on where exactly I was going, city and country, and why,including for annual leave/holiday. This requirement was communicated in a letter only to tier 2 staff. Also for a few years the uni required only tier 2 staff to bring in proof of current address twice a year, though refused to direct me to the home office requirement for this (of course there is none). I had a big fight with them about it and about 2 years ago they stopped requiring it. Not at all. Nothing. Some people save for a flat, I save for immigration. Yes. We have set visa check days where we are obligated to take class attendance. All the students write their name down but the only absences that matter are tier 4 students. I as lecturer have to chase any missing ones down and get an acceptable excuse for their absence. At a postgraduate level, dissertation supervisors must periodically fill out forms stating that they have seen tier4 students in the flesh. No form for home/eu students. Tier 4 students have to periodically check in with their passport at a particular office.
Glasgow, Strathclyde and EdinburghGrad teaching assistantNoThey are asked for work visa proof more oftenYes, passport scans before employment and proof of working visaNot that I know ofAttendance
University of GlasgowTutorBritish / ScottishYesYesNot sureYes. Monitoring class attendance. Police registration.
Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU)REDACTEDBritishNot that I'm aware ofNot that I'm aware ofUnsurenon-EU students who are here under visas have their attendance monitored in order to comply with UKVI rules.
GoldsmithsAssociate LecturerBritishYes - implicit racist bias, language issues etcYes - regular checks, application restrictionsDont know - unlikelyYes but not sure how
Goldsmiths Senior Lecturer NoThey feel more vulnerable, particularly in relation to union activity Not eureNoIt says it doesn’t. But we are not sure how the data on international students is used.
GoldsmithsLecturerBritishCan’t say. Not known. Don’t think so. Home & overseas students have the same monitoring.
GreenwichVisiting lecturerEuropeanNoDon't knowDon't knowNo
Guildhall School of Music and DramaHourly-paid lecturerSpouse of an EU citizenI have no knowledge about this. It's worth mentioning that teaching staff is almost entirely white. Cleaners, workers at reception & in HR are almost entirely either British non-white or international or both. So there is a racial divide mapped onto different kinds of work.We had to submit documents proving our right to work in the UK when we began working there.I'm aware that it has done so on at least some occasions (for visa fees). I don't know about NHS fees.I'm not really aware of how it does, though it probably does.
Heriot WattProfessor BritishProbably although it's not something that has ever been mentioned by migrant staff or that has been brought to the union's attentionNoI don't think soNo
University of HuddersfieldSenior LecturerTier 2Not really - as a Tier 2 visa holder I am treated just as badlyyes - they monitor our annual leave and conference attendance that is outside UKno, noyes, spot checks and authorized absence
University of HuddersfieldSenior LecturerTier 2no, but I am white so I may not be as sensitive to it. yes, we must declare stays away from the office for conference and other research activities on our annual leave requestnoyes, only because of visa requirements they need special permission to get authorized absences for holiday
HullLecturerBritishYes because there are so few POC staff generally, but not specifically because they are non-white *and* internationalI don't think soNoYes - mandatory weekly sign-ins
Keele UniversityLecturerTier 2Yes, there is some long-held implicit understanding that non-white staff need to work harder tobe recognised for what they are worth. Yes. I am requested by the HR to share my daily whereabouts via google calendar with my line manager and tge HR. Not at all!Yes, we were asked to pay particular attention to intl ss for their attendance
University of Kent Postgraduate StudentTier 4 studentYes, racial biasNo, they use time sheets for all but international staff receive more scrutinyNoNo, but tier 4 students are subject to more scrutiny.
University of Kent School administratorBritishNoYes. We are required to report absences from the UK - for work or personal reasons such as leave - to Human Resources on a termly basis. There is no such requirement for the those without a visa. As the individual required to liaise with Tier 2 colleagues and report their absence, I find this difference is treatment unacceptable. I don’t knowThe attendance of all students is monitored - non-engagement is seen more broadly, it would seem, and absence is considered to be an early warning signal for poor academic performance.
University of Kent lecturerbritishyes. often some cultural prejudice and even racist views are related to non-white staff members' behaviour or research or teaching styleyes, sometimes uni is unwilling to sponsor overseas/non-EU staff and jobs are only advertised/offered to candidates who already have permission to stay and work in the UKnoyes, attendance register aimed at international students specifically
University of Kent Phd student and graduate teaching assistanttier 4 not that i'm aware ofas phd students they monitor our attendance and meetings with supervisorsno, at least not to graduate teaching assistants the rule is that attendance is compulsory for international students and you have to inform someone if you are absent, but I am not sure how the rule is enforced
King's College LondonTutor (which is about the same as Lecturer)EUAs in all academia, there are strict behavioural norms that privilege whiteness over other forms of speaking, being, dressing, etc. In recruitment, experience at and familiarity with UK- or even London-based universities that run very similar programmes is highly favoured (though since I work on REDACTED international experience is also favoured). Our curricula are almost exclusively white canon, so people educated in a non-Western tradition would not be employable here. Informal banter in the department is differently experienced by white and non-white international staff since it often touches on race (ostensibly to make fun of racism). I don't know! As an EU migrant I have not noticed being monitored differently than British staff.I don't know.In my department the teachers must complete online registers (an online Excel spreadsheet) during class. Student cards are not scanned. In the case where international students are under 18, which some are since we run a Foundation programme, they must report to the department, either by attending class or by contacting the department via phone, once every weekday since we have the 'duty of care'.
King's College LondonLecturerBritishNot so far as I know in terms of monitoring of presence etc. However there are very few people of colour (international or UK) employed as academic staff in my subject area. Not as far as I know (but this doesn't mean it doesn't happen). As far as I remember recruitment involves answering whether you have the right to work in the UK and passport, visas etc are copied at interview/on appointment. I am not sure.No - we are supposed to record all students' attendance/absence at seminars. The one difference I can think of would be that if a student needs an interruption of studies for personal reasons the student sometimes need to be careful that dating this from the start of a term won't accidentally create a visa issue for them.
King's College LondonLecturerBritishI don't know many to be honest, but like all universities it's structurally racist, so yes. It's well known that King's has a particularly white and upper class faculty, many Oxbridge PhDs, etc.I don't know.Only in part.Yes. I have has to report on the seminar attendance of international students. As I understand, they must have attendance of at least 50% to retain their visa status.
Lancaster UniversityLecturerBritishNoI don't knowI don't knowI have been told that it does, but have no details
Lancaster UniversitySenior LecturerTier 2Yes. Non white staff are treated with suspicion and their level of knowledge always questionedYesNo. No. Yes. We are expected as staff to name any student we consider as absent.
Lancaster UniversityGraduate Teaching Assistant /PhD studentBritish staff Am unaware of specific differences in treatment by university itself formally. Would say that composition of staff in many departments is predominantly white though. Issue 178 of student staff mailing list publication subtext which reports on internal affairs of the university noted an anonymous member of staff being informally warned about taking strike action during the recent USS pensions dispute on account of their visa status.Not sureAm unaware of whether university provides such compensation Am unaware of any specific monitoring measures operated by the University focused upon international students after they have arrived and registered in addition to the general attendance monitoring system operated by Lancaster University that applies to all students (have included details of monitoring system in answer below).
Lancaster Universityseminar tutor and phd studentbritishnot sure - only aware of white (int and nat) staff in my area of deptdont knowdont knowdont know
University of Leedsacademiceuyes on many aspects from visa, ohs surcharge, impossible to go abroad for long period even for researchyesthey give interest free loans only for visa fee, nothing for nhsapparently no but in practice yes-supervisor asked to collect signature and meet students over the summer-aimed to control MA students from outside EU
University of LeedsSeminar AssistantNo Tier 4not promoted, tend to hit a ceiling. judged more for accents and language skillsYes, more critical and 'supervised'. more 'measures'nono
University of Leedslecturertier 2yes, I was not even included in the payroll. The university agenda thinks it's normal to have LGBTQI events, but when Black History Month is suggested there is no funding, no support, no white scholars show up unless they are invited to speak, never to listen.noVisa fees only the normal up to 2 months process. Not NHS feesyes, though an online system. In case they miss classes, they inform the Home Office
University of LeedsProfessorBritish and at the moment EUDon't knowDon't knowDon't knowI think so. Through course attendance. But this is set electronically by default as "attended".
University of LeedsAssociate Professor in Translation StudiesBritish, former Tier 1, former Tier 2 with EU familyNoI am not aware of any differences in monitoringNoNo, everyone fills in sigh-up sheets and absence reporting system on the portal. Administration may theoretically use this information differently for home and international students, e.g., reporting absences for international students to the Home Office, but I am not aware if this has been every done
University of LeedsSenior LecturerBritishYes. Absence of non-white staff at senior positions with the University.I don't knowI don't know.No.
University of LeedsSenior LecturerTier 5yes, but I can't be sure howyes, requiring reporting of absences, monitoring visa status and giving no guidance or support to staff seeking immigration status changesnoThere is a sense that all students are monitored via attendance monitoring but the system is very tight because of proportion of international students
University of LeedsPGR and seminar tutorEUI haven't experienced differential treatment. I am not aware of this. I am not aware of this. Yes.
University of LeedsLecturerEUNoNoI don’t knowNo
University of LeedsLecturer British NoNoNoCompliance with immigration status is university policy, students' attendance is monitored.
University of LeicesterPost-Doctoral Research AssosciateDual: British & EUI can't speak to non-white international staff, but the different departments of the university seem to make huge efforts to avoid reimbursing staff recruited from oversees for relocation costs.Not to my knowledge.I don't know.I don't know, but don't believe so.
University of LeicesterPhD candidate/Teaching assistantEUDon't knowNot as far as I'm awareDon't knowYes, through strict attendance monitoring
University of LiverpoolLecturerBritishYesUnsure of the process hereLiverpool University took part in an early pilot scheme with the Home Office (to test out any technical glitches and errors before they roll out the application process UK-wide) I believe applications for right to remain were fast tracked and compensatedTier 4 visa students have attendance fed back to the Home Office. Staff are now being forced to monitor ALL attendance for teh purposes of T4 monitoring. UCU members are resisting th is at present
University of LiverpoolStaff permanent full timrBritishYes, union survey resultsNot yetNot sureWants to start doing so
University of LiverpoolSenior Administrator British Not that I have heard. Not that I have heard. Only for big players who agree a package. No, they are monitored the same. However, a focus is put on Tier 4 student attendance being pursued more intently.
University of LiverpoolLecturerEUN/A - the problem in my department is not how non-white staff are treated, it is the absence of non-white staff.Not to my knowledge (EU staff)Not to my knowledge.Not to my knowledge.
Liverpool John MooresLecturerBritishDon’t knowDon’t know don’t knowDon’t knowDon’t know
University of LondonSenior academic staffBritishNoNoI don't think so although help was offered in the form of advice from immigration lawyersThere's an awareness of who is on a Tier 4 visa but our administration is clear that all students should be treated equally.
London College of CommunicationLecturerTier 2I do not see many non-white international staff!we are constantly asked about our visa and if we take a job at another institution, multiple managers ask if this is under your visa permission.I was compensated by LCC for my fees. It was not clear if they did I asked for it and they agreed. The university that I am moving to does not.This is a huge expense for me (about £2K). I was told this is policy.It requires staff to pay more attention to the attendance of tier 4 students.
City, University of LondonSenior LecturerTier 2Not sureYes, requires periodic reporting of travel abroadNo and noYes
LSE (London School of Economics and Political Sciences) PhD StudentEUI can only say that I assume so, given that non-white people are generally treated worse in wider society, as well as institutional contexts. As a white person, I cannot tell you of any concrete examples from my institution, but I do feel like the most hostile and brutal cases of immigration control/threats of deportation that I have heard of in the wider academic sphere involve non-white international staff. I am not sure about staff, so can only speak of PhD students. With regards to this, the university here seems to be putting on an egalitarian face, by monitoring everyone equally - but it is very clear that these monitoring regimes have been increasing lately, and we all know that in reality they are aimed at international PhD students. I tried to find info on this, but without full success. it seems to sometimes be the case, but not always: https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/services/Policies-and-procedures/Assets/Documents/relPolNewSta.pdf some more info can also be found at : https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/services/Policies-and-procedures/Assets/Documents/immPol.pdf 'The School will only reimburse the visa application fees as specified in the ‘Visa Reimbursement Guidance’. - but I am unable to find the Visa Reimbursement Guidance! Since I don't teach, I am unable to answer this!
Loughborough UniversityResearch AssociateBritishYes. I have yet to see a non-white Dean, Pro Vice Chancellor, etc. Because non-white staff are not given the same opportunities.They keep asking for their visas and passports to be provided to HR and international PhD students keep getting threats of deportation if they don't send their minutes of meetings in time.NoYes. Postgraduate International students must be physically present at meetings, home students often have their meetings with supervisors over Skype.
Loughborough UniversityLecturerEUI would not say so, but I am white, so cannot tellYes, they need to share their calendar with managersNo, we are currently fighting for itOfficially the system to monitor attendance is the same
University of ManchesterLecturerTier 2Thankfully no, but I don't know beyond my schoolNot so much. Just around visa renewal times, if they remember.No IHS fees, No Tier 2 fees for dependents, no ILR feesyes, online recording systems (for PGT/PGR). Not sure for UGT
University of ManchesterReaderEUno


I am not aware of this more generally, but the right to strike is obviously something not UoM specific that is contentious for Tier 2/5 staff
nono and yes - when monitoring for PGT students was introduced it was done so due to the need to monitor international students - thus now all studnets are being monitored in the same way - but of course only international students are being followed by by PSS staff if they do not attend sufficiently
University of ManchesterPostdoctoral ResearcherTier 2unknownI don't think sothey compensate for the staff member visa fees only. they do not cover IHS or any fees for dependants.unknown
University of ManchesterLecturerEUGiven the short experience at my work place (5 weeks) I cannot respond to this question. The only thing I can state is that I have seen no open discrimination at all. I don't know. I just started in the UK (5 weeks) so I have no experience about my own or other universities. In that sense, I am not really a good person to take this survey perhaps. But what I can say is that among all the information I have received from The University of Manchester as newly employed, I have received no specific information that I can recall about how to handle or Tier 4 international students. In fact, the word "Tier 4" is new to me. I am not sure how you interpret this information.Yes. Two of my international staff colleagues have received compensation for themselves, but not for their dependents which amounts to a lot of money. We are organizing to push this (linking with Sheffield and one other university). I think they do. Through the computerized data-base system called e-Prog, there is a monitoring where we as supervisors need to fill in or tick some boxes. As stated, I have received no specific information about this or Tier 4 students from any senior members of staff. The only thing I have heard is from one of my junior colleagues who quipped, as we were discussing how May's "hostile environment" has made doctors and teachers into border patrol officers, that you will soon also be the same when you report about international students. I didn't have time to follow-up on that, but I will now after this survey.
University of ManchesterLecturerTier 2I am not aware of it.They do it indirectly, by asking you to show your passport and BRP to HR, who keep a copy of them. Every time you extend your visa you have to go to HR and show them the documents.Only for visa, paying for the standard service. They don't compensate for NHS fees (though they offer an interest-free loan) and, crucially, they don't reimburse ILR fees. Yes. There are checks throughout the year and response by staff to students who can't show up on campus on the particular day of the checks can be unpleasant.
University of ManchesterLecturerBritish Don't know Don't know Not to my knowledge.Yes. International students have to report in for additional visa checks.
University of ManchesterlecturerEUNoNo.?No.
University of ManchesterlecturerBritishNoNoNo clueNo
University of ManchesterTeaching AssistantBritishYes - I have the impression from colleagues that many white international staff face fewer barriers in the visa process than their non-white counterparts. Yes, international TAs have to keep track of their hours and report this. Not that I am aware of. Yes - I believe there are harsher penalties for missing classes and students are expected to attend special meetings to prove their attendance at uni.
University of ManchesterLecturerTier 2Do not know.Uncertain - so likely no.For visa fees, yes; no for NHS fees; uncertain regarding further visas (ILR, e.g.) Stricter attendance checks (though frankly attendance is taken very poorly at my institution, so I'm not certain how this is done at all)
University of ManchesterSenior LecturerBritishI'm sorry to say that I've interacted with so few non-white international staff that I can't answer. The lack of representation in staffing tells us something.Yes. It doesn't pay for visa fees. As I understand, it doesn't pay for NHS fees either.Yes. International research students have to 'signed in' as present at regular intervals by programme directors (over and above class registers campus solutions monitoring).
University of ManchesterLecturerEUNo.I am not sure.No it does not, neither visa fees, nor NHS fees. (My colleague, a non-EU staff has informed me of this.)Yes. As Lecturer and examiner, I need to sometimes fill in a web form that they have participated in a particular event.
University of ManchesterLecturerTier 2Not as far as I am aware; the real difference is between EU and non-EU staff, who are paid differently for doing the same job.Not as far as I am aware.Currently it pays only for the main applicant's Tier 2 fee; dependants' fees and NHS surcharges are not reimbursed, although an interest free loan covering these costs is made available to staff. The University of Manchester offers no support of any kind for staff applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years on a Tier 2 visa: neither the may applicant's fee, nor the any dependants' fees are covered; no loan of any kind is offered to help defray these costs. Thus all non-EU international staff on the fifth year of their employment at UoM are required to take a pay cut of at least a whole month's take-home pay (assuming the typical member of staff in this situation is near the bottom of grade 7 and has no dependants) to cover these costs and continue to be able to work for the University.Not that I am aware of; the same attendance checks are conducted on all students every 4 weeks during term time.
University of ManchesterResearch FellowTier 2Yes. Its been the case in every university I have been in but Manchester is probably the most British and white. And I am in a development department, which is supposed to be more international.No. No.Not sure.
University of ManchesterLecturerEUNon-white international postgrad staff (i.e. PhD researchers) have had to do a lot of research training that I did not have to do (although those persons had done a research MA which already involved that training, and I hadn't for instance)No regarding EU staff, but for the rest I don't knowI don't knowI don't know
MMUSenior LecturerBritishYes.Yes - though I don't know the details of howI doubt itProbably
Newcastle UniversityPhD candidateSpouse visaNot sure.N/AAs to PhD candidate - No.Use to report to and sign-in at department office every fortnightly; regular emails from uni reminding me of recording supervisory meetings, otherwise my 'student visa' may be revoked with rather threatening tone. All this happens when I'm NOT on a student visa, therefore the Home Office cannot revoke my visa if I fail to register with the uni. I have been on spouse visa for the whole duration of my course and I told my uni so (the email exchange with them was very unpleasant. they were very cold, condescending, unfriendly, unapologetic and unsympathetic as to my case). But they said they had to ask me to sign and send me those emails.
Northumbria University Professor Tier 2I really can’t speak for others. I don’t have enough knowledge to answer this; but given the racial biases I see regularly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they felt treated differently. I don’t think they monitor us differently. No. Compensation for visa and NHS fees are wrapped into the general moving expenses which are already inadequate for moving. I do not know.
University of NottinghamPhD StudentEUSometimes they have wrong expectation as long as they know where I come fromI do not knowI do not think soI do not know
The Open UniversityLecturerNone of the above. I am non-EU with permanent residence.No.Of course - once a year they have to show up with their proof of their right to work at the faculty/HR.No.Of course - once a year they have to show up with their proof of their right to live in the UK. This is then photocopied by the central university authorities.
University of OxfordDepartmental LecturerTier 2The Department is quite egalitarian and democratic in its practices. Every term have to inform of absences and leavesVisa fee but not NHS for Departmental LecturerNot applicable
University of OxfordAssociate ProfessorTier 2Clearly non-EU international staff are treated differently than EU international staff. I applied from [REDACTED} and my department and college were unable to assist me with the process, even when I flagged institutionalized racism as a dilemma faced (due to the payment processing system, WorldPay, only accepting certain payments from people applying from within certain countries). In the process for applying for my visa, I uncovered a significant institutional barrier to people applying for expensive visas from certain regions and when I informed my HR person of this, my complaint was disregarded.Yes, I am required to report my absences (sick, travel, other) to my department monthly for purposes of tracking my attendance. (I am required to report absences to my college termly.) This is not based on or related to performance and only Tier 2 holders in my department are required to do so. Yes to bothYes, we were required under PREVENT and other laws to track international student presence in activities
Oxford Brookes UniversityProfessor and Head of DepartmentBritishNot at all. Not really - only at point of offering contractNo I don't think so. No
Queen's University BelfastLecturerTier 2The difference is subtle and implicit. It's hard to tell whether it is because of the skin color. As far as I know, it's just the Non-EU staff that are treated differently. We are required to report to the HR our whereabouts, if we are off the campus for more than 30 days, even if we are working within the UK, for example, visiting someone. Yes, both from the relocation package. If I renew my visa, I will need to pay the fees myself. Yes. International students have to sign the attendance list (so do the local students) and sign the academic engagement form when writing the dissertation (local students don't need to). Attendance and academic engagement records are one of the conditions for international students to keep their Tier 4 visa.
Queen's University BelfastPhD studenttier 4Again, I do not know about staff, but I can answer about tier 4 phd students.

I know that certain neutral practices affect non-white phd students more. For example, my colleagues that moved up North from the 'global South' experience difficulties in working in the hours during which the School building is open.They have requested to work late (out of hours). This was initially granted. However, because this was abused by other students (in fairness, again from the 'global South' in both cases), eventually the policy was stopped and now no one can use the offices out of hours without special approval. I think this neutral rules affects my colleagues from the 'global South' more then it does me. I come from the 'global North', so although I could not hate the weather here more, I can work and function during the day.
I do not know about staff, but I can answer about tier 4 phd students.

Yes. I have found that for international students there is a presumption of them being in violation of the tier 4 system, and they constantly need to prove that they are not. Several reasons how the monitoring is different:
(1) My fellow phd students need to have a minimum of 6 supervision meetings per year (3 with two supervisors), whereas I and my fellow tier 4 students need to have 12 (we need to have a meeting every month). This is disruptive for the flow of the work, especially in the third year, since sometimes I need more then a month to produce something worth of sending to the supervisors (a new chapter, for example). It also creates an atmosphere that the supervisors and I need to 'invent' reasons to meet even if we all know things are going just well.
(2) I cannot leave the country without an approval from the faculty; if I do so, I risk losing my visa. So, the word I am going to use is prison.
(3) We cannot just get sick for a big longer nor can we just 'stop the clock'. I have experienced private issues, health issues, logistical issues (unexpected need to move) etc and none of these made it ok for me to stop working for the time I needed to sort these out.
I am going to stop here, as just writing raises my blood pressure.
No. But, there was a travel grant which, if awarded, included visa fees, health surcharge (nhs) fees as part of the eligible costs for compensation. I applied and got this grant in my first year. However, this grant does not cover dependant's visas. so, people with families might need to chip in much more.Please see above.
Queen's University BelfastTeaching Assistant/former PhD studentFormer Teir 4, now a dependant of a permanent residentYes, by International and Postgraduate Center staff and clerical staff of various grades. They open all Teir 4 UKBA correspondence addressed to students or tell student to open it in their presence under the guise of being sponsor, they are consistently very condescending, treat international students in a degrading and humiliating manner and are rude. In between waiting times between outstanding in time visa applications, initially PhD students used to be able to teach, but you get emails from a variety of clerical and staff with HR oversight almost daily, sometimes two a day, which adds to the stress you are already under from waiting on UKBA and completion for PhD students. When you have to appeal UKBA its worse, even after you have won and UKBA is yet to implement, they literally choke you to death with one email after the other, useless meetings and veiled threats rather than using their position as sponsor to ensure implementation of immigration court judgement. I once had to wait over a year before UKBA sent my biometric card and that of my family. I was told by University healthcare services that I could no longer access healthcare, this also happened whenever the Visa application response was prolonged.Yes, Visas and UKBA attached conditions have to be adhered to.I don't knowYes, I had to give notice to Administrative staff if I wanted to travel outside the Belfast area, even for fieldwork within the UK, conferences, trainings and Educational Programs organised by the School to [REDACTED] for instance.
Queen's University BelfastSenior lecturerBritishNoNoYesYes
Queen Mary University LondonTeaching associateBritishI don't knowI don't know.I don't knowYes. We have to check their attendance for visa reasons
Queen Mary University of LondonPhD student and Teaching Associate Tier 4I am a white international staff member, so I don't experience this directly. But I have heard from some non-white staff who feel our admin head of school is quite overtly racist and unfeeling, for instance, when international staff have a family death abroad and request bereavement leave. Person was told grandmother is not a close enough relative to trigger the policy.Not that I am awareSince May 1, 2018, my university does reimburse international staff for visa and NHS fees in theory, but this is up to a set cap and does not include any fees for:
Tier 2 Priority or Premium service; English Language Tests fees; Medical Test Fees; National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) service fees; UK legal fees for advice on immigration; or Any costs for dependents. The current caps are: Applying from outside the UK for a visa up to 3 years: £1210; Applying from inside the UK for a visa up to 3 years: £1304; Applying from outside the UK for a visa up to 5 years: £2120; and Applying from inside the UK for a visa up to 5 years: £2408. http://hr.qmul.ac.uk/workqm/immigration/visareimbursement/
I don't think so.
Robert Gordon UniversityPhD Candidate and part-time lecturerNon EU citizen. I have a spouse visaI don't have knowledge of this.They take a copy of my passport and Residence permit. They require the same from guest lecturers, artists, who come to deliver a talk at the university. Consequently, we can't bring non-EU artists or presenters for even an hour long lecture.I don't know.all international students have to bring documents (passport, RP) with proof of their address 3 times a year to the "immigration compliance" office at the university. The university staff have to take a record of student absences and share this information with the "immigration compliance" office at the university. Also, I am applying for extension of my spouse visa soon, and although the university is not a sponsor for my visa they demand a proof of my application as soon as I submit it.
Royal HollowayStaffTier 4Not sureDon’t know for non student staffNo re: visas. We aren’t charged NHS fees though, we can registerTechnically no as it’s all through attendance registers. In effect obviously this is to conceal the monitoring of intl students. Valid address etc must be registered as well of course.
St AndrewsSenior Lecturer in HistoryBritishThere are so few it is ahrd to know but I don't think the two Indians whom I work most clsoely with are treated differently.
I don't think soThe university pays the fees.We apply monitoring rules to all students so the Tier 4 students don't notice
University of SheffieldLecturerTier 2Not sure - I’m whiteReport time out of countryOnly recently (April 2018) visa fees but not nhsNo
SOAS, University of London StudentNoYesYes YesYes
SOAS, University of London LecturerBritishI don't personally feel that, but I know some colleagues take a different view.Yes, although to an extent it varies according to Department. In at least some Departments, international academic staff members have been required to spend a minimum number of hours working in the office, whereas the norm is that academic staff may work from home unless they are teaching or have meetings. In others, however, such as my Department, the enforcement of this is far less strict.NoThe attendance of all students at classes is monitored and emails sent by the Department Office to students who do not attend class. However, although the
School administration have repeatedly stressed that the purpose of class attendance is pastoral care, it is also the case that repeated absence by an international student will be reported to the Home Office. In addition, there is considerable concern in the SOAS staff and student community over the monitoring of students under the Prevent duty.
SOAS, University of London Career Consultants and Operations Team LeaderBritish In my team non-white staff are given less opportunity and are not afforded the same leeway and professional dignityNoI don’t knowI don’t know
University of SouthamptonProfessional servicesBritishNoNot that I am awareThe policy is not to but I know some individual academics that attempt to offer compensation for staff they are employing as they personally feel it is important Not that I am aware
Stirlingpost-doc researcherTier 2I have no direct evidenceNot that I knowNo (at least not in my case)There is a Tier 4 mark against the attendance register and there are set contact points they must attend throughout the year
University of StrathclydeLecturer / Chancellor's FellowBritishIn my view, yes. It is hard to articulate exactly how, but I think there is a racialised difference - often in terms of being visibly marked / read as 'diverse' and/or 'international' and expected to automatically do work that relates to e.g. decolonisation, anti-racism - even when this is nothing to do with a person's actual specialisms. I think it does, in terms of absences longer than 10 days - during the UCU strike in early 2018 colleagues on Tier 2 and 5 were unable to strike for longer than 9 consecutive working days. I'm not sure. Registers (paper!) are taken in tutorials, to my knowledge no attendance is taken at lectures. At this 'front end' there is no difference, but I'm assuming that once paper registers are passed to administrative staff that there is a difference in the way that absences are interpretted / responded to - if not in how they are recorded.
University of SussexPhD researcher and Associate TutorTier 4Not in my department Yes, number of hours allowed to work/week, and constantly nagging to update contact records for supervision meetings for UKVI inspection. I am not sure (not in my case because I am on Tier 4)Yes, the University is constantly in touch with the Home Office regarding my hours of study and work.
University of SussexPhD Student / Doctoral TutorBritish NoNot that I know ofNot that I know ofYes. Attandance of tier 4 (I.e. internaltional) students is closely monitored for visa purposes
University of SussexTeaching Fellow EUI'm sure institutional racism exists at Sussex - there's a 'race gap Not sure Don't know Not that I'm aware of
University of SussexLecturerBritishNot that I've noticedDon't know, apart from checking visa complianceDon't know but I don't think so.Student attendance is monitored partially (all students). In practice it's too difficult to get everyone at lectures to sign a register due to class size. However, small group teaching we're supposed to keep a register. Beyond 80% attendance all students get a warning, and this may progress ultimately to expulsion if they keep not showing up without a good reason. However, international students it's more serious because they'd also be in breach of their visa requirements.
University of SussexReaderEUnoYes, in my school international staff are required, on a monthly basis, to fill in a spreadsheet of their planned movements outside UK for the following month and upload it to a secure directory with access for Head of School, School Administrator, and HR.No and No.No.
University of SussexSenior lecturerBritish Yes they tend to get fewer of the senior or high profile admin positionsI am not sure but I know there were differences during the strike and HR had to meet with international staff members who were on strike and they were required to complete a ridiculous micro surveillance documentSorry don't know It seems to couch the register as about international visas and students not domestic students.
University of SussexPermanent Research FellowTier 2NoNot to my knowledgeYesYes. We are accredited through U of Sussex, which requests that we keep a record of classroom attendance for international students and report all absences
University of SussexPhD CandidateTier 4 - International StudentYes, I am definitely different from white international students. I also consider my self as white but I am neither European, Canadian or US citizen. As I mentioned in the previous questions, this submission of reports every month is one of the obvious ones. I always have the fear that I could do sth wrong which could affect my visa status. I have to pay extreme amount of money to apply visa, renew visa and etc. I am already paying double for my studies compare to white international students. -No, at least not mine. I answer this in the previous question.
University of SussexAssociateTutorTier 4 I am not sure. I am international, but not non-white. This question needs to be more inclusively formulated. Not all international staff are non-white. I wouldn't know the differences among universities. It does for visa fees. I am not sure about NHS fees. I do not if they do it differently. What they do, in my case, is a requirement for making records of supervision meetings.
University of SussexResearch fellowTier 2Not sure - but likely, given differential treatment of non-white international students (see below). But there is likely differential treatment in terms of support/awareness of different visa- and immigration-related experiences: non-white international staff are more likely (as a generalisation) to be from countries toward which the UK has stricter visa rules/requirements (including proof of funds requirements), compared to countries such as Canada, Australia, the US... In my experience, at the university and school level, there's no significant awareness of these added difficulties. Not sure (it hasn't applied to me, so far) - but from what I hear from other international staff, the university has started to monitor international staff movement (e.g. presence at the university) more closely. No, unless the staff member is 'relocating' (i.e. from another country). I changed visa categories, from a Tier 4 to Tier 2 visa at the same university (and so didn't have to relocate), and was not compensated for visa or NHS fees.Yes (I think) - more attention to attendance
University of SussexDoctoral TutorEU I don't know.They do. Starting from issues related to the visa, international staff is tight to rules that don't apply for British. For example, last year international DT were not as free to strike as the nationals, because their visa was related to the number of hours they worked. this basically overrules the right to take part at a strike.Not that I know.They do: their attendance to both lectures and seminars is monitored (obviously everyone has to sign the register but it's only international students who are monitored)
University of SussexLecturerBritishThe university has not made a clear commitment to end the hostile environment at Sussex, it has sought to undermine the decolonize campaign as creating exclusions, and failed to unequivocally condemned far right activity on campus. This sets the structural conditions in which non-white international staff might be treated differently.It proposed to do so during the pensions strike, I am not sure how this was followed upDKYes. There is a separate administrative tier for the monitoring, attendance abd performance management and sanctions for international students
University of SussexClerical AssistantBritishnot sure not sure not sureyes, if attendance is poor they are not complying with their tier 4 visa, so they monitor this and if it goes too low the information is reported back to the board of study and audited - students will receive warning emails (phrased as if the university cares about their welfare) and finally a meeting with course convenors to ask them to explain their non-attendance
University of SussexPhDtier4 international studentIn terms of support on campus; mental health services in Sussex don't take into account traumas and anxieties that result from political, racial, and war oppressions that many international students suffer from. Discussions, drop-in, leadership positions open for students to involve in within schools don't include international students' needs.I am required to register my supervisory meetings with the university, at least one meeting each month.No.I ve only shared what I experienced above.
Swansea UniversityAssociate ProfessorBritishI haven't seen any evidence of this - but we have very few non-white colleagues in my part of the university. This seems hampered by major incompetence of the HR department. The biggest impact seem to be long administrative procedures.Visa fees have been part of hiring negotiations and were granted, as far as I am aware. No idea about NHS.No. They have started to monitor ALL students to satisfy the Home office rule (one attendance check every two weeks minimum)
Swansea UniversitySenior LecturerEUAny non-Welsh staff (regardless of colour) are treated poorlynot as far as I knowVisas: Yes; NHS: nono
UCLSenior research fellowEUPossibly. An Indian colleague was suspended out of the blue via a phonecall on a Wednesday evening, because HR had checked their paperwork and his passport didn't meet their latest requirements. I don't think soDon't knowNo - we have to have regular meetings with all students and this was introduced due to immigrant rules but applied to all so that Tier 4 students are not discriminated against.
UCLLecturerBritishnot certainnot certainnot certainYes. Academics have to take registers for immigration purposes. They then upload them in an electronic system. Moreover, they are introducing compulsory lectures for MA dissertation students in July and August. They are very strict about granting leave to students who want to finish their dissertation away from UCL premises in July/August. In addition, they introduced 'spot-checks', by which they mean checking the ID of Masters students in big lectures every week. Spot-checks were recently taken back, following some strong reactions by academic staff.
UCLLecturerBritishNoYes, track attendance Interest fee loansNo
UCL(Insitute of Education)MA tutor BritishYes. They are hyper visible and often do not feel supported or recognised for their work.N/AN/A?Yes, we have to email and complete additional paperwork when we meet International students for tutorials.
UCLSenior Immigration AdviserBritishN/AN/ANoYes, engagement monitoring is only in place for TIER 4 visa holders. International students with other types of visa are not required to be monitored and the same goes for home/EU students.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students/sites/students/files/ucl_tier_4_engagement_monitoring_policy_2018-19_1.pdf

UCL requires ALL students to have a minimum attendance of 70% at all scheduled teaching & learning events.
UCLSenior Research AssociateEUNoYesVisa feesYes Tier 4 - proof of monthly engagement with supervisor
UCLTABritishYes, at this same meeting, non-white international staff explained that they felt racially profiled - also UCL has a very white academic staff base, making those who were not feel like their experience is not generally understood, and therefore receives less attentionYes, they are required to meet the same checks that students are, we had a branch UCU meeting about it and a lot of staff on that visa are very concerned, UCL has an especially draconian approach the home office policy and this is felt across all levels of university life there Noyes, registers which are collected by the administrative staff every two weeks, we are meant to say if a student is not precent for 2 weeks, spot checks, through their ID cards (amount of times they use the library etc)
University of Warwick Department Administrator British Yes; there seems to be a level of suspicion when colleagues address non-white Staff. Non-white staff are few and far between but I’ve heard comments from the Director of HR that ‘they’ can’t be trusted hence the monitoring specifically referring to a non-white colleague. Yes; we are required to see passports of Tier 2 and 5 Staff at least once a year and record their absence from work or any travel taken for work-related / leisure purposes NoWe are ‘told’ the process is equal but the monitoring process are only applied to international students
University of Warwick Associate ProfessorBritishDon't knowDon't knowNo No, but as a result of hostile environment, we have monitoring points for all students and they are very onerous.
University of Warwick Assistant ProfessorUK Ancestry VisaHard to say from personal experience, I'm in a small department; none of our non-white staff are international and vice-versa. Yes, department heads are being asked to report on attendance and travel for Tier 2 and Tier 5 staff. Visa fees can be claimed against relocation allowance (although in my case with a family of three this didn't cover everything). The university offers an interest free loan for NHS surcharges (monthly payments are deducted from salary). Technically, no. Monitoring points are technically set for all students, and attendance is recorded through the same system for everyone. Obviously the consequences for missing a monitoring point are very different for an international vs. a home student (who, at most, will get a follow up from a personal tutor).
University of Warwick Phd/ STPTier 4/ DESI would say gender also changes dynamics. Students have a condescending or more confrontational attitudeCheck working hoursnoYes, with supervision attendance. I have to send a report to the department showing that I am in the country and 'doing' the PhD
University of Warwick Associate ProfessorBritishIn fairness, I have no seen evidence of this.It has varied over time and seemingly between people. There have been some visa cock-ups for Tier 2 recently. I don't think so. Certainly not for staff on temporary contracts or teaching fellowships.The approach of my university is to massively up monitoring of all students, to avoid being seen as racist.
University of Warwick Post-Doctoral Research FellowTier 2I don't knowI don't knowHa! No. Absolutely not.I do not know. They did at my previous uni. When I was a student on a Tier 4 visa I had to come in every 6 months and show my passport to prove that I was still a student I guess. The whole thing seemed pretty dumb.
University of Warwick Sessional tutorTier 4Not sure.Yes, by constantly sending visa expiry remindersNoYes, by making them do supervision reports and other attendance measures and constantly reminding them about their obligation to UKVI
University of WestminsterDoctoral ResearcherTier 4 student visaI’m not sureCheck passport once a year.NoYes, check passport once a year.
University of Westminsterdoctoral student/part time student helperTier 4n/apassport check every yearN/Apassport check every year
University of YorkSenior lecturer BritishI don’t know I don’t know I don’t know Yes. International students must report to the department if they wish to travel. There has to be certain number of recorded ‘contact points’ even outside of term time (ma and phd students). We have to continue to regularly meet with international phd students who are post their registration (writing up year, waiting for viva, doing corrections) but not with home and eu students.
University of YorkLecturerEUEveryone in my department is whiteNot EU staffI don’t know Yes, Tier4 MA students need to get a form signed by the graduate chair once every term
University of YorkLecturerBritishI do not know.They must submit paperwork and log all of their travel with our administrative staff.No.Yes, international students must physically meet their supervisors once per term and the supervisor must sign off on their presence.
University of YorkLecturerTier 2 staffYes. Such reporting requirements seemed to be targeting international staff from Asia, Africa and South America (not US, Australia, NZ, Canada etc). The lack of transparency and reporting requirement (voluntary/mandatory, right to refusal etc.) are bothersome. As is the mask of randomness. Colleagues from USA, Australia, NZ etc. at the university have never received such a request.Yes. Some international staff (note: not all) are asked provide details of their travel, absence, away from office etc. It used to be reporting on previous fortnight or month but later changed to questions about both previous and upcoming fortnight/month. It was, as far as I could tell, random though criteria were not made clear. NoYes. There are registers to be taken at random. To ensure fairness, all students names are to be called out but only those on Tier 4 visa need to reported/registered.
University of YorkResearch FellowTier 2Not sureYes, Tier 2 visa holders are required to fill out a spreadsheet every 2 weeks detailing dates of: overseas travel for work-related activities - please include the dates and the location/travel destination; work carried out in the UK but away from campus for a period of ten working days or longer; annual leave; leave in special circumstances (compassionate or unpaid leave etc); unexplained or unauthorised absenceNo it does not compensate international staff for visa fees or NHS feesNot sure
University of YorkResearch FellowTier 2 StaffNo.Yes. Fortnightly reports we need to fill on a spreadsheetNo and it really startles me how CLEAR they have been about this the times I have applied (or reapplied) for a new VISA.I believe so. Both in terms of their attendance to the university and of international travelling.
University of YorkResearch FellowTier 2have no ideayes, track leave information, does not pay for visa application feeneitherdon't know
University of YorkPostdocTier 2I am sure this is the case, but I haven't personally been affected as I am a white member of international staff.Yes, every two weeks my boss (or line manager) is asked to submit a report on my whereabouts which includes sending in an email detailing my movements or maintaining a Google Docs spreadsheet which is automatically shared with HR. The contents of the email is:

Please provide details of:
all overseas travel of any duration
work carried out in the UK but away from campus for a period of ten working days or longer (this may include conferences, fieldwork, visits to laboratories or archives etc)
annual leave
leave in special circumstances (compassionate or unpaid leave etc)
unexplained or unauthorised absence


For the month of October
Please provide details of:
overseas travel for work-related activities - please include the dates and the location/travel destination
work carried out in the UK but away from campus for a period of ten working days or longer

You should provide all information on your usual return. If no absences occurred or are planned, or if you have already shared a Google Sheet with me and keep it updated, a short reply to this effect will be sufficient.

Some absences will require reporting to UKVI. We may also report other changes that we know about, such as resignation, redundancy, re-grading/promotion or changes in salary.
No, and no.I don't know as I'm in research
University of YorkResearch Fellow (Grade 6)Tier 2I don't think so. But, that's just because I have never experienced it. Maybe other have.Yes. 1) Staff on Tier 2 are monitored in terms of attendance, annual leave taken, and overall we have to report our absences and planned absences every 15 days. Other staff do not have to do this.
2) Tier 2 staff are also paid lower because the university does not pay for the visa and NHS surcharge costs when they offer us a contract of employment, so technically we are paid around £2000 less compared to other staff, per annum, simply based on the fact that we are non-EU.
3) Also, more recently the university has decided to pay for the settlement fees for all EU staff, in the wake of Brexit. But there have been no concerns in covering even a portion of the fees for non-EU staff. Tier 2 staff as you are aware face much higher costs for visa extension and application.
NOT AT ALL. I don't know this about University of York
University of YorkResearch fellowTier 2YesYes, we have to pay visa fees and nhs fees which are not reimbursed, and thus salaries overall are less than other staff.No I don't know
Prefer not to sayTeaching Fellow (Academic Skills development)BritishI don't knowI am not sureYesThey have to register with police