London Metropolitan University PIC: Johnny Green/PA Wire

More than 2,000 foreign students in London could face deportation after London Metropolitan University lost its right to authorise visas.

The government stripped the university in the capital city of its power to sponsor students during their stay in the UK.

It comes after the university failed to address serious and systemic failings that were identified by the UK Border Agency six months ago.

The Met university said: “The implications of the revocation are hugely significant and far-reaching, and the university has already started to deal with these.

“It will be working very closely with the UKBA, Higher Education Funding Council for England, the NUS and its own Students’ Union.”

The UK Border Agency insisted the issue was a specific one with the University, and was not widespread across the higher education sector.

“We have been working with them since then, but the latest audit revealed problems with 61% of files randomly sampled. Allowing London Metropolitan University to continue to sponsor and teach international students was not an option,” said a spokesman.

“These are problems with one university, not the whole sector. British universities are among the best in the world - and Britain remains a top class destination for top class international students.

“We are doing everything possible, working with Universities UK, to assist genuine students that have been affected.”