Over 42,000 Foreign Graduates Missing as UK Seeks Recovery of £900m Student Debt

British authorities are grappling with the challenge of recovering billions of pounds in unpaid student loans as tens of thousands of graduates, including many foreign students, have left the United Kingdom without settling their debts.

New figures released by the Student Loans Company (SLC) reveal that more than 42,000 former university students from across Europe have become untraceable after completing their studies in Britain, contributing significantly to a growing student debt crisis.

According to the data, officials are currently attempting to recover outstanding loans worth approximately £3.4 billion from around 121,000 former students, both British and international, who are now living overseas.

The report indicates that foreign students account for nearly £900 million of the outstanding debt, raising concerns among taxpayers and policymakers over the effectiveness of loan recovery mechanisms for graduates residing outside the UK.

Unlike graduates who remain in Britain, overseas borrowers are more difficult to track because authorities cannot rely on domestic tax records to monitor their income and repayment status. This has complicated efforts to enforce repayment obligations among former students who have relocated abroad.

The statistics show that approximately 15,000 graduates with outstanding loans are now living in Australia, while about 7,600 have moved to the United States. Around 5,500 are believed to be residing in Spain and Ireland respectively.

Other destinations with significant numbers of debtors include the United Arab Emirates, which is home to an estimated 5,300 graduates with outstanding loans. The figures also identify about 3,500 debtors each in Bulgaria and Romania, while roughly 1,500 are believed to be living in China.

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The Student Loans Company has consistently maintained that relocating overseas does not exempt borrowers from their repayment obligations. Under the terms of the loan agreements, graduates are required to notify the agency if they intend to live abroad for three months or longer and must provide details of their income to enable appropriate repayment arrangements.

Student loans in the UK are designed to help students cover tuition fees and living expenses while pursuing higher education. Repayments generally begin after graduation once borrowers earn above a specified income threshold.

However, not all former students with outstanding balances are required to make repayments immediately. Individuals who are unemployed, earning below the repayment threshold, receiving certain benefits, or temporarily out of work may not be obligated to make payments until their financial circumstances change.

The growing scale of unpaid overseas debt has drawn criticism from campaign groups and education advocates.

Callum McGoldrick, Investigations Campaign Manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, expressed concern over the burden placed on taxpayers.

“Taxpayers will be furious to see billions in student loan debt disappearing overseas while they foot the bill. Ministers must get serious about enforcement, or hardworking taxpayers will keep paying the price,” he said.

Similarly, Christopher McGovern, Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, argued that the current system requires significant reform.

“Taxpayers are being robbed. Non-UK students should be excluded from loans altogether, and UK students should be required to provide a guarantor of repayment, such as a parent,” McGovern stated.

In response to the criticism, the Student Loans Company emphasized that most borrowers continue to meet their obligations.

A spokesperson for the agency said that the overwhelming majority of customers comply with loan conditions and make repayments through the appropriate channels.

According to the SLC, more than 90 percent of borrowers had a verified residency and employment status during the 2024/2025 period, demonstrating a high level of compliance among former students.

The agency reiterated that all borrowers are required to adhere to the terms of their loans regardless of where they live and stressed that overseas relocation should not be viewed as a means of avoiding repayment.

The issue is expected to remain a subject of debate as the UK government seeks ways to strengthen international debt recovery arrangements while balancing access to higher education for both domestic and foreign students.

Over 42,000 Foreign Graduates Missing as UK Seeks Recovery of £900m Student Debt

NYSC Releases Step-by-Step Guide for Date of Birth Correction on Portal

Nigeria – The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has outlined the procedure for prospective corps members seeking to correct their dates of birth on the NYSC portal following the release of call-up letters for the 2026 Batch B Stream I orientation exercise.

The scheme said affected prospective corps members (PCMs) must obtain a 19- or 20-digit WAEC Verification Pin before initiating the correction process on the portal. According to NYSC, candidates are required to complete their registration and log in to their dashboard to access the date-of-birth correction link.

Step-by-Step Procedure for NYSC Date of Birth Correction

To correct a date of birth on the NYSC portal, prospective corps members should follow these steps in order:

1. Obtain WAEC Verification Pin – Get a 19 or 20-digit WAEC Verification Pin from WAEC or any authorized bank branch. This pin is required to sync your details with the WAEC database.

2. Log in to Your Dashboard – Submit your initial registration, then log in to your NYSC dashboard to access the correction features.

3. Locate the Correction Link – Click on the “Correction of Date of Birth” link within your dashboard options.

4. Enter Your Details – Input your WAEC Verification Pin, select your WAEC Type, choose your Year of Examination, and enter your Examination Number.

5. Verify Information – Click on the “Verify” button to allow the system to sync your data with the WAEC database.

6. Submit or Cancel – Click SUBMIT to save your changes or CANCEL if you need to review the information further.

According to an NYSC clarification issued prior to the call-up letter release, the Date of Birth correction option only becomes available on PCM dashboards after call-up numbers have been issued. The NYSC urged prospective corps members to remain calm and assured them that once their call-up numbers are available, the portal will automatically reflect the correction option.

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Beyond date of birth correction, the NYSC also allows prospective corps members to request corrections for name (must exactly match certificates), course of study, class of degree, and qualification. The scheme directed prospective corps members whose names on their certificates or statements of results do not exactly match the names uploaded on the NYSC portal to contact their institutions and ensure the records are properly aligned before proceeding to camp.

The development comes as NYSC released call-up letters for the 2026 Batch B Stream I orientation course. The scheme also warned that PCMs whose dates of graduation on their call-up letters do not match the dates on their statements of results will not be registered at orientation camps. NYSC advised affected candidates to resolve such discrepancies through their Student Affairs Officers (SAOs) before reporting to camp. The same warning applies to corps members with inconsistencies in their date of birth records.

The scheme announced that some prospective corps members deployed to Lagos State will undertake their orientation course in camps located in Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, Ogun and Osun states. Similarly, some corps members posted to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will have their orientation exercise in Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kano and Kaduna states. The NYSC urged prospective corps members to print and sign their call-up forms ahead of registration at their respective orientation camps.

The date of birth correction process on the NYSC portal is free. The NYSC strongly advises all prospective corps members to triple-check their details before submitting their registration. Your Date of Birth, Date of Graduation, and Course of Study will appear on your Certificate of National Service or Exemption Certificate. Once you register at camp, you cannot correct these details anymore. Complete all necessary corrections before your orientation camp date to avoid issues during registration and ensure a smooth NYSC experience.

NYSC Releases Step-by-Step Guide for Date of Birth Correction on Portal

NYSC Releases Call-Up Letters for 2026 Batch B Stream I – See How to Print Yours

Abuja, Nigeria – The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has officially released the call-up letters for prospective corps members (PCMs) in the 2026 Batch B Stream I exercise. The scheme also issued a stern warning against night travel to orientation camps. The announcement was made on Monday, June 8, 2026, via the NYSC’s official channels. Prospective corps members are now able to log into the NYSC portal to check their state of deployment and print their call-up letters ahead of the orientation course.

The NYSC announced that some prospective corps members deployed to Lagos State will undertake their orientation course in camps located in Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, Ogun, and Osun states. Similarly, some corps members posted to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will have their orientation exercise in Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kano, and Kaduna states.

The 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, and will run until Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Registration and verification of prospective corps members will begin on Wednesday, June 10, and close at midnight on Friday, June 12, 2026. The swearing-in ceremony will take place on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. across all orientation camps nationwide. Prospective corps members are advised to note that registration portals and physical documentation at camps will close strictly at midnight on Friday, June 12, 2026. Failure to register before this deadline may result in forfeiture of participation in this stream.

The NYSC Osun State has announced that it is set to host the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation course at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Ede. The swearing-in ceremony will be presided over by the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, while the Chief Judge of Osun State, Hon. Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, will administer the National Pledge and NYSC Oath of Allegiance on the prospective corps members. The scheme also called on the people of the state, especially the NURTW, to assist prospective corps members in locating the orientation camp with ease.

The NYSC reiterated its warning against night travel for prospective corps members heading to orientation camps. The scheme advised corps members to break their journeys by 6:00 p.m. and seek accommodation at designated safe locations such as corps lodges, military formations, police stations, or traditional rulers’ palaces before continuing their trips the following morning.

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The NYSC outlined several critical guidelines for prospective corps members ahead of camp registration. The scheme warned that prospective corps members whose dates of graduation on their call-up letters differ from those on their statements of results will not be registered at the orientation camps. Affected candidates were advised to resolve such discrepancies through their Student Affairs Officers (SAOs) before reporting for camp. The NYSC also directed prospective corps members whose names on their certificates or statements of results do not exactly match the names uploaded on the NYSC portal to contact their institutions and ensure the records are properly aligned before proceeding to camp. Additionally, the scheme outlined the procedure for correcting dates of birth on its portal. Affected corps members are required to obtain a 19- or 20-digit WAEC verification pin, complete their registration, log in to their dashboard, access the date-of-birth correction link, enter the required examination details, verify the information and submit the request.

How to Print NYSC Call-Up Letter

Prospective corps members can print their call-up letters by following these steps:

1. Go to the NYSC portal at http://portal.nysc.org.ng

2. Click on the “Login here” icon

3. Login with registered email and password

4. Click on ‘Print Call Up Letter’ link to access and print the document

PCMs are advised to print and sign their call-up forms ahead of registration at their respective orientation camps.

As preparations for the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course gather momentum, the NYSC has emphasised the importance of equipping young Nigerians with the skills and values needed to drive national development. The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, stated in his keynote address during the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Pre-Orientation Course Workshop that orientation courses must serve as milestones of impact and renewed citizenship. He further noted that as the corps population continues to grow, it is imperative for state governments to appreciate and fulfill their obligations to the Scheme through the provision of befitting and functional orientation camps. Nafiu also advocated the constructive use of digital media tools and public perception platforms to train Corps Members in responsible digital conduct and effective community mobilisation. He further revealed the need to prioritise security awareness and sustain close collaboration with security agencies to ensure the safety of orientation camps.

The NYSC organizes its mobilization process into batches and streams to ensure efficient management of the large number of graduates participating in the national service program each year. Batches are groups of graduates mobilized at different times of the year, with Batch B typically beginning around June or July. Streams are subdivisions within each batch, created to avoid overcrowding at orientation camps and ensure smooth logistics. The entire service year lasts 12 months, beginning with the three-week orientation course and ending with a Passing-Out Parade (POP).

NYSC Releases Call-Up Letters for 2026 Batch B Stream I – See How to Print Yours