Times Higher probe leads to 12th exclusion

Oxford Brookes University has excluded a 12th student following The Times Higher 's investigation into the use of fake qualifications to secure places across the UK higher education sector, writes Phil Baty.

After confirming last month that checks on its students' entry qualifications had led to the exclusion of 11 students, Oxford Brookes has revealed that a 12th had now been asked to leave the university.

Academic registrar Stephen Marshall said: "All students are required to provide evidence of their qualifications, and the qualifications are then checked for validity. A total of 12 students have been excluded as a result of our recent checks as part of the enrolment process."

The Times Higher revealed last month that an agent for Chinese students, operating in Oxford, was offering students fake qualifications to obtain university places at a cost of up to £7,000.

A first-year Oxford Brookes undergraduate confirmed that he had secured an unconditional offer at the university after paying £4,000 for fake A-level results.

Oxford Brookes would not confirm the nationality of any of the excluded students. Mr Marshall said: "We maintain rigour at all times in our admissions process for all students, including those applying from overseas."