39 Mexican PhD students stranded in UK as scholarship dispute escalates into legal war
A financial dispute between Mexico’s National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) and the Polytechnic Foundation has left 39 Mexican PhD students in the UK without scholarship payments since March. The conflict, which began in 2025, has now escalated to legal accusations and fears that students may lose their degrees. The crisis started when the Polytechnic Foundation accused IPN Director General Arturo Reyes Sandoval of attempting an illegal takeover and misusing student funds. In December 2025, the foundation filed criminal and civil complaints against him, alleging embezzlement, influence peddling, and abuse of authority.
In response, the IPN announced the creation of a new organisation, Patronato Corazón Guinda y Blanco A.C., on April 20, 2026. The institute blamed the foundation for the suspended scholarships, leaving students like Mónica Calderón, a 28-year-old Bioengineering PhD candidate at Queen Mary University of London, without their stipends since March 23.
Students currently receive around £880 per month plus £40 for transport—less than half the amount UK authorities recommend for international students in London. With visa restrictions limiting them to 20 hours of work per week, many now face financial strain. Some fear they may have to abandon their PhDs and return to Mexico if the issue remains unresolved.
On April 30, 2026, Reyes Sandoval announced he had held a virtual meeting with UK university officials to discuss alternative funding options. However, no immediate solution has been confirmed. The dispute has left students in limbo, with no clear resolution in sight. Without scholarship payments, they risk losing their degrees or being forced to leave the UK. Both sides continue to exchange accusations while the financial crisis deepens.
