Millennium College, which provides English language courses to foreign students in Dublin, has closed, affecting some 100 students.

Students were first made aware of the closure this morning when a note was posted on the door of the college in Lower Dominick Street.

The note said the board had decided to cease trading with immediate effect due to “financial crises” arising from its removal from a register of approved colleges following revelations contained in a newspaper article.

The closure is the fourth of its kind in the last number of weeks.

About 30 students who had paid in advance for courses at the college gathered outside the premises this afternoon.

Lucia Bonaiuto said she had attended class yesterday but was not informed of anything untoward.

She said she had been shocked to find that the college had closed this morning: “We started the course in January...it’s not fair for us,” she said. “We paid the course...we are in a bad situation now without a course, without money.”

Dave Moore, communications officer for the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) said some 500 students in total have been affected by the recent college closures. He said many of them were now in an uncertain situation as regards their continuing immigration status as a result of the closure.

Mr Moore said it was not unusual for students to have paid up to €3,000 for courses.