Last year we named and shamed Robert Gordon International University which was quickly shut down and last week Newcastle International University was red flagged by the real Newcastle University as a bogus university.
The website uses real photographs of Newcastle University including one showing students wearing their Newcastle University IDs, but was entirely fabricated.
The university raised the alarm and took action when an applicant tweeted a question about the institution.
The website asks potential students to hand over credit card details on the website to pay for courses. No genuine UK university would do this and students need to question it if they are asked for payments online for courses.
Many universities have international offices and overseas campuses and increasingly offer opportunities for distance learning. This kind of copy-cat website exploits the fact that international students may not be as familiar with UK universities as domestic applicants. They steal text and images from the real institution websites in an effort to extort monies. This is completely illegal and the websites can be shut down if the alarm is raised. Contact the degree fraud team at Hedd if you have any concerns or wish to report a website.
Our top tips for students to spot bogus universities:
If it’s not featured on the official Government list of degree awarding bodies it is not a valid UK university.
If it doesn’t have a .ac.uk web address it is not a valid UK university.
If it asks you to submit credit card or passport details on the website it is not a valid UK university.
If it uses American phrases; prices in US Dollars; poor grammar or spelling it is not a valid UK university
If the contact details don’t look right e.g. premium phone numbers, PO Box mailing addresses or personal email addresses like Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo it is not a valid UK university.
If Google Street View for the campus shows you an empty shop front, industrial park or two-bedroomed semi-detached house in Suburbia it is not a valid UK university.