Mixed fortunes for asylum Freshers
A Kosovan refugee who risked losing her place at Merton College has now been granted indefinite leave by the home office to remain in Britain.
Vildane Berani, 18, arrived in England in 1999 after her family was forced to leave their home in the Serbian enclave at gunpoint. "We were given ten minutes to gather our belongings. The Serbians told us if we didn't leave they would kill us," Berani said.
She went on to gain six A grades at A-Level, and won a place at Merton to study medicine.
Despite her refugee status, Berani was classified as an international student and so was liable to pay the full £30,000 for her first three years at university. The Beranis receive just £90 a week in benefits, and so would have been unable to meet these financial requirements.
Berani's application for indefinite leave has now been granted by the Home Office. This means she will pay the same amount as a British student, enabling her to commence her studies at Merton this week.
Catherine Paxton, Senior Tutor at Merton College, told The Oxford Student she was unable to comment on individual cases, but "the College is very keen to work with all students with academic potential, and to help secure funding by pointing them in the direction of the sources available."
Those who lack similar media access may not be so fortunate. The case of Azim Ansari is still pending, although he is taking up his place at Oxford University this week. Ansari, a 17-year-old ethnic Hazari, came to Bristol after fleeing war-torn Afghanistan. In 1998, 10,000 Hazaris were massacred in a city not far from the town in which he lived.
He won a place at St John's College to study engineering; however, the Home Office has said it now considers Afghanistan safe for single men. The Ansari's year-long leave to stay in the country has run out, and their application for an extension has been rejected. If their appeal against this decision fails, Ansari will be unable to take up his place at Oxford. "I've worked very hard and it is almost like a dream. To have it snatched away from me would be awful," he said.
A spokesperson for St John's told The Oxford Student the College is still expecting Ansari. Although his case is still under review by the Home Office, "all St John's can do is confirm that we have offered him a place, and to say that we are expecting him. We haven't heard anything from the Home Office, and as far as we're concerned the case is still pending."
6th Oct 2004