More than 2,000 students could be kicked out of the country after the Government stripped a university of its right to admit foreigners.
London Metropolitan University has had its Highly Trusted Status (HTS) for sponsoring international students revoked and will no longer be allowed to authorise visas, according to the institution's website.
The move could mean more than 2,000 students being deported within 60 days unless they find another sponsor, according to the National Union of Students (NUS).
Universities Minister David Willetts last night announced the formation of a task force to help overseas students affected by the decision.
He said: "It is important that genuine students who are affected through no fault of their own are offered prompt advice and help, including, if necessary, with finding other institutions at which to finish their studies."
London Metropolitan University's HTS status was suspended last month while UKBA examined alleged failings.
A statement posted on the university's website last night read: "The implications of the revocation are hugely significant and far-reaching, and the university has already started to deal with these.
"It will be working very closely with the UKBA, Higher Education Funding Council for England, the NUS and its own Students' Union.
"Our ABSOLUTE PRIORITY is to our students, both current and prospective, and the University will meet all its obligations to them."
A UKBA spokesman said: "London Metropolitan University's licence to sponsor non-EU students has been revoked after it failed to address serious and systemic failings that were identified by the UK Border Agency six months ago.
"We have been working with them since then, but the latest audit revealed problems with 61% of files randomly sampled."
