London School of Management suddenly closes – 500 students and 30 Staff ‘Let Go’

The London School of Management (LSM) closed down on 26 September 2011. The UK Borders Agency (UKBA) revoked its licence to sponsor foreign students and as 85 – 90 % of its students come from outside the EU, it had little choice but to close.

Students will have difficulty finding other colleges to enroll at as all colleges by now will have filled their September vacancies. Colleges are having their Licenses revoked all the time and as 134 colleges have also lost their so-called Tier 4 licenses for foreign students over the last 22 months, competition for places could be fierce for the January/February 2012 intake. Average annual fees paid upfront are around £3,000 and refunds will be hard to obtain should LSM go into Liquidation. By law the foreign students have 60 days to enroll at a new School or College or return to their home countries. Many are, however, unlikely to have the cash to re-enroll somewhere else.Those with 6 months or less remaining on their visa may stay in the UK until visa expiry.

Informed sources say that although UKBA revoked LSM’s license on the basis of poor record keeping, the actual reasons are probably more to do with government policy on immigration.

Based on UKBA estimated living costs (excluding fees) the loss to the local Ealing economy will be £2.7 million annually.

LSM had operated in central Ealing for 17 years and occupied Dawley House, 91 to 95 Uxbridge Road across the road from Cavalier House. It offered graduate, post graduate, vocational and language course and it concentrated Business Management, IT, Accountancy , Travel and Tourism. The main degree awarding body was the University of Gloucester.

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