Broken Promises: The Berlin University Scandal Unveiled
The dream of a German education has turned into a deportation nightmare for hundreds of Indian students enrolled at Berlin’s International University (IU). What began as an aspiration for a Master’s in Business Management for 25-year-old Deep Shambarkar has culminated in a yellow envelope from the Berlin Immigration Office (LEA), demanding he leave the country by November 3rd, 2025, or face deportation. Shambarkar’s story is not an isolated incident; it’s a chilling echo shared by an estimated 300 students, caught in a systemic failure that has left them in financial ruin and psychological distress.
The Accreditation Conundrum: A Systemic Failure?
Shambarkar, who has already invested around €20,000 – a sum largely financed by a student loan – believes the root of the problem lies with the university’s accreditation. “I think it’s because the university may not have had the right accreditation for its courses,” he told Euronews, highlighting a previous court case where a student lost due to a lack of “appropriate infrastructure” and “too few professors.” This suggests a fundamental flaw in the university’s operational capacity, directly impacting the validity of the degrees offered.
The LEA’s stance is unequivocal: they do not recognize IU studies as face-to-face teaching, arguing that students could complete their programs remotely. This directly contradicts the university’s promise of a degree program in Germany, leaving students like Shambarkar and Tanishq, a 20-year-old from Delhi, in an unbearable limbo. Tanishq, who completed his first year of a bachelor’s degree online from India, is now stuck, his visa denied. “I feel cheated,” he confessed, a sentiment echoed across the affected student body.
The Unseen Hand: UpGrad’s Role and the Illusion of Opportunity
Many of these students, including Shambarkar, were guided to IU by the Indian placement agency UpGrad. The agency’s model involves students completing the initial part of their degree online from India, before transitioning to Germany for the remainder of their studies. This pathway, once a beacon of hope, has now become a source of profound disappointment. The promise of a seamless transition has been broken, leaving students questioning the integrity of the entire process.
A University’s Regret vs. Students’ Reality
In response to Euronews’ inquiry, IU expressed “regret” for the students’ predicament, attributing the crisis to the LEA’s unannounced change in approach to hybrid degree programs at the beginning of 2025. The university claims new study regulations will be implemented in 2026 to ensure face-to-face programs meet visa requirements. However, this explanation offers little solace to those facing immediate deportation, many of whom are now burdened with significant debt and no degree to show for it.
The university’s offer for some students to complete their studies free of charge in their home countries, while seemingly a gesture of goodwill, underscores the fundamental issue: the inability to deliver on the initial promise of a German education. This raises critical questions about the university’s accountability and its communication with both students and regulatory bodies.
The Human Cost: “My Life Feels Like Hell”
The psychological toll on these students is immense. Shambarkar describes his life as “hell,” grappling with the mental and physical strain of his situation. Another anonymous student shared a harrowing account: “I feel like a failure. The situation has massively damaged my psyche. Sometimes I feel like my life is about to end.” These are not just financial losses; they are profound human tragedies, impacting mental health and future prospects.
The irony is stark: students who entered Germany legally on student visas, still pursuing their studies, are now on the brink of deportation. The authorities’ focus on “sufficient livelihood, proper full-time studies, passport possession, no interest in deportation” as criteria for residence permit extensions, while seemingly standard, has been applied in a manner that has devastated these students.
The Future Uncertain: A Campus in Cologne and a Controversial Judgment
Amidst the turmoil, Euronews has learned that IU is suspending new student admissions at its Berlin campus due to “ongoing legal and administrative uncertainties with the LEA.” This decision, while perhaps necessary, further highlights the instability and unreliability of the programs offered. The university plans to open a new campus in Cologne in October 2026, a move that raises questions about accountability for past failures.
A court judgment, while acknowledging IU’s accreditation, has simultaneously tightened requirements, demanding “stricter attendance controls with sanctions and examinations that take place exclusively on campus.” This contradictory ruling, described as “highly controversial” and against university law by the judges themselves, underscores the complex and unresolved nature of this crisis.
The plight of these Indian students at IU Berlin is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within international education systems and the devastating consequences when promises are broken. It calls for a thorough investigation into the university’s practices, the regulatory oversight, and the support mechanisms for international students.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/12/23/broken-promises-indian-students-at-a-berlin-university-face-deportation-instead-of-graduat
