Date set for London Met's High Court visa legal action

London Met lost its licence to recruit and teach overseas students in August

A London university's legal challenge to the UK Border Agency's (UKBA) decision to revoke its licence to sponsor international students goes to the High Court next week.

The government revoked London Met's "highly trusted" status in August over alleged failings.

An application for "interim relief" will be heard on 21 September.

London Met's vice-chancellor described the claims as "not particularly cogent".

Of 101 sample cases, 26 students were studying between last December and May even though they had no leave to remain in the UK, UKBA figures showed.

More than 2,000 students left in limbo will get three months to find an alternative course, officials have said.

Genuine students have 60 days to make a new application or to arrange to leave the UK, but the countdown starts when UKBA writes to them and no letters will be sent out until 1 October.

Professor Malcolm Gillies said: "I would go so far as to say that UKBA has been rewriting its own guidelines on this issue and this is something which should cause concern to all universities in the UK."

Earlier this month a UKBA spokeswoman said: "The revocation of London Metropolitan University's sponsor licence was the correct course of action and we will strongly contest any legal challenge."