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Felix Ngole, 38, posted on social media that “I stand with Kim Davis” - the American county clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples.

The student of Sheffield University also commented on the link quoting a bible verse which called homosexuality an “abomination” in September 2015.

He was ejected from the university following a fitness to practise committee hearing after the uni emailed him in relation to the posts.

The father-of-four’s actions were described as "transgressed boundaries which are not deemed appropriate for someone entering the social work profession" by the committee and ordered him to hand in his student card.

The committee said its decision was not based on his views but the act of publicly posting them "may have caused offence to some individuals".

Mr Ngole said: "My beliefs about marriage and sexual ethics reflect mainstream, biblical understanding, shared by millions around the world.

"Simply expressing that understanding, in a personal capacity, on my Facebook page, cannot be allowed to become a bar to serving and helping others in a professional capacity as a social worker.”

However, Mr Ngole said he will be appealing the decision, which could prevent him becoming a social worker.

He believes the decision is an effective "bar to office for Christians" and that he may have suffered discrimination.

He said: "I wonder whether the university would have taken any action if a Muslim student who believes in Sharia law, with its teaching about women and homosexuality, had made moderate comments on his Facebook page. I don't think so."

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Mr Ngole, said: "Sadly, this is yet another case of Christians being 'neutered' in the public arena, and of censorship of views."