Oxford Magic Tours, a company offering walking tours of Oxford University, has conducted a survey shedding light on the potential scale of exploitation in the UK’s student loan system, even at some of the country’s most prestigious universities.
The survey, carried out on March 23, 2025, interviewed 150 Oxford University students. When asked if they knew of any students who had enrolled in a course but failed to attend entirely, only one student said they were aware of such a case. This represents 0.67% of the students surveyed.
While this figure appears low, it could suggest that student loan exploitation may be less visible at leading institutions like Oxford or could indicate that the issue is more widespread but hidden. With recent media reports exposing large-scale fraud in franchised university programs, this finding raises questions about whether top-tier universities are also affected, albeit less conspicuously.
Spokesperson for Oxford Magic Tours, Shane Sterling, commented:
“Our walking tours bring us into daily contact with students, visitors, and faculty members. During this survey, it became clear that while awareness of non-attendance is low, that doesn’t necessarily mean the problem doesn’t exist. If such cases occur even at elite universities like Oxford, it suggests this issue may run deeper than many realize.”
Background and Context
The survey follows recent reports of large-scale fraud in the UK’s student loan system, where students, particularly from overseas, allegedly enroll in courses with no intention of attending. According to a Sunday Times investigation, some franchised colleges have seen large numbers of students exploit the system, leading to millions in fraudulent loan payments.
Government figures reveal that in the 2022/23 academic year, £2.2 million in fraudulent loans were linked to franchised providers, making up 53% of all identified fraud by the Student Loans Company (SLC).
Call for Transparency
Oxford Magic Tours believes this survey highlights the need for greater transparency and oversight in all universities, including elite institutions. The company is calling for further investigation into the scale of loan exploitation at the UK’s top universities to ensure public funds are protected and educational integrity is maintained.
