Several UK Universities have temporarily blocked admissions for students from Pakistan and Bangladesh due to concerns over visa compliance and rising asylum claims. At least nine institutions have now imposed restrictions on applicants from these countries.
Universities cited the need to protect their student sponsor licenses under new Home Office rules. These rules require institutions to keep visa refusal rates below 5 percent, half the previous limit. Recent data shows refusal rates for students from Pakistan and Bangladesh at 18 and 22 percent, far above the threshold.
The University of Chester has suspended admissions from Pakistan until autumn 2026, following a sharp increase in visa refusals. Similarly, the University of Wolverhampton and the University of East London have stopped accepting undergraduate applicants from both countries.
Other UK Universities, including Coventry University and the University of Sunderland, said the restrictions were necessary to maintain the integrity of the visa system. Lower-fee institutions, which rely heavily on international enrolments, are under particular pressure to comply with the rules.
Universities such as the University of Hertfordshire and Glasgow Caledonian University have been placed under action plans to improve compliance. These institutions have paused admissions from Pakistan and Bangladesh for specific intakes. Additionally, Oxford Brookes, BPP University, and London Metropolitan University have taken similar temporary measures.
Officials said the restrictions respond to misuse of study visas, as some students enter the UK on education visas and later file asylum claims. The tightening of admissions is expected to affect thousands of students seeking higher education abroad.
Experts warned that these measures could limit opportunities for international students, particularly those who rely on affordable university options. Universities stressed that the restrictions are temporary and focused on meeting government requirements.
In other related news also read UK Tightens Rules for Refugees Seeking Residency
The latest measures show the growing challenges for international applicants, with UK Universities taking stricter steps to ensure compliance with new visa rules.
