Several UK universities have begun restricting admissions for students from Pakistan and Bangladesh due to rising visa refusal rates and stricter Home Office rules. At least nine institutions have already paused recruitment, leaving thousands of genuine students facing uncertainty.
The move comes after Home Office reforms lowered the acceptable visa refusal rate for student sponsor licences from 10% to 5%. Pakistan’s average student visa refusal rate reached 18% last year, while Bangladesh’s stood at 22%, according to official data. Both countries accounted for nearly half of the 23,036 student visa refusals recorded in the same period.
Among the first universities to act, the University of Chester suspended recruitment from Pakistan until autumn 2026. The University of Wolverhampton and the University of East London also paused applications from both countries, while Sunderland and Coventry universities halted intake to protect visa compliance. Sunderland officials stated they “made no apologies” for their strict measures.
Additional universities have introduced similar restrictions. The University of Hertfordshire paused admissions from Pakistan and Bangladesh until September 2026 due to long visa delays. Glasgow Caledonian University temporarily limited some programmes, and Oxford Brookes University paused undergraduate applications for January 2026 courses. BPP University and London Metropolitan University also implemented temporary halts.
International higher education experts warn the new rules put significant pressure on universities heavily reliant on overseas enrolments. Vincenzo Raimo described the environment as a “real dilemma,” noting that even a few problematic visa cases could jeopardize compliance. Universities UK International echoed these concerns, advising institutions to diversify their intakes and strengthen application checks.
Students and education agents in Pakistan have expressed frustration. Maryem Abbas, founder of Edvance Advisors, called the situation “heartbreaking” for legitimate applicants whose offers were withdrawn at the final stage. She criticized the reliance of UK universities on unscrutinized overseas recruitment agents.
The Home Office defended its stance, saying the measures ensure only genuine students are admitted while holding universities accountable. The crackdown comes as the sector navigates heightened scrutiny, stricter compliance thresholds, and growing international student demand.
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With many UK universities now limiting applications from high-risk countries, experts predict a lasting impact on Pakistan and Bangladesh’s student mobility and the wider international higher education sector.
