UK Universities Restrict Admissions from Pakistani Students Over Visa Concerns

UK universities are starting to restrict applications from students in Pakistan and Bangladesh due to growing concerns about visa misuse and stricter Home Office rules. This move comes as universities work to protect their ability to sponsor international students.

At least nine universities have now introduced limits on recruiting students from what they call “high-risk” countries. These restrictions are aimed at avoiding problems with student visas and staying within the rules set by the UK government.

The decision follows a noticeable increase in asylum applications from students who originally came to the UK on study or work visas. Universities say that to comply with new Home Office regulations, they must take stricter measures when reviewing applications from certain countries.

For example, the University of Chester has paused recruitment from Pakistan until autumn 2026 after seeing a sharp rise in visa refusals. Similarly, the University of Wolverhampton and the University of East London have stopped accepting undergraduate applicants from Pakistan and Bangladesh. The University of Sunderland and Coventry University have taken comparable steps, stating that these measures are needed to maintain the fairness and integrity of the visa system.

This wave of restrictions comes after new Home Office rules were introduced in September, which lowered the acceptable visa refusal rate for universities to 5 per cent—half of the previous limit. However, government data shows that refusal rates for students from Pakistan and Bangladesh are currently much higher, at 18 per cent and 22 per cent respectively. Students from these two countries now make up almost half of all student visa refusals in the past year.

The stricter rules have put extra pressure on universities that charge lower tuition fees and rely heavily on international students to maintain their income. Some universities, such as the University of Hertfordshire and Glasgow Caledonian University, have been placed under official action plans requiring closer monitoring and stricter compliance. These institutions have temporarily stopped admissions from Pakistan and Bangladesh for certain programs.

Other universities, including Oxford Brookes, BPP University, and London Metropolitan University, have also temporarily paused or limited recruitment from these countries. They are adjusting their procedures to meet the new requirements and reduce the risk of losing their student sponsor licenses.

Experts warn that these restrictions could have long-term consequences for international student recruitment in the UK. Students from Pakistan and Bangladesh, who previously made up a large portion of overseas enrollments, may now face fewer opportunities to study in the UK. Universities say they are balancing compliance with the need to remain attractive to international applicants.

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