British universities and private pathway providers for international students face accusations of admitting overseas students with lower entry requirements compared to domestic counterparts. This has prompted concerns about fairness and transparency in admissions practices with foreign students sometimes paying up to £38,000 (US$48,000) in tuition fees as opposed to no more than £9,250 (US$11,700) for UK students. The controversy highlights issues around pathways such as International Year One programs and the role of agents in recruitment, sparking calls for more ethical approaches and greater scrutiny in international student recruitment.

A study reveals that a significant number of UK universities continue to accept millions in cash for tuition and accommodation payments, making them vulnerable to money laundering risks. Around 22 universities still accepted cash payments, with the total reaching £12m in 2019-20. The research highlights concern about anti-money-laundering guidelines not being strictly followed and universities not reporting suspicious activity, potentially endangering staff and students. The study calls for stricter legislation to address these vulnerabilities.

There have been several institutions located in the UK illegally operating under the title ‘university’. The ‘free universities’ like the Ragged University and Free University Brighton (FUB) offer courses generally sustained through free labor, which means they are unlikely to prove enduring. According to the Minister of immigration, the government had “struck off nearly 900 bogus colleges” which operate as portals for illegal immigrants. A Norwich couple was found guilty of fraudulently running the British Nutrition Council and the International Distance College, which defrauded around 900 individuals.