UK universities have begun blocking new admissions from Pakistan and Bangladesh as concerns mount over rising visa refusal rates, alleged misuse of the immigration system and tighter Home Office regulations.
At least nine universities have now introduced restrictions on applicants from the two South Asian countries, which they have categorised as “high-risk” in light of new compliance pressures.
The shift follows a significant increase in asylum claims lodged by individuals who initially entered the UK on student or work visas — a trend universities fear could jeopardise their ability to retain their sponsorship licences. With stricter Home Office rules introduced in September, universities must now maintain visa refusal rates below 5 per cent, a threshold far lower than the previous 10 per cent.
However, recent government figures reveal that refusal rates for Pakistani and Bangladeshi applicants stand at 18 per cent and 22 per cent respectively. Collectively, students from the two countries make up nearly half of all UK student visa refusals over the past year, placing institutions under heightened scrutiny.
In response, several universities have opted to suspend or sharply limit recruitment. The University of Chester has halted admissions from Pakistan until at least autumn 2026 after reporting an unexpected spike in visa rejections.
The University of Wolverhampton and the University of East London have also paused undergraduate intake from Pakistan and Bangladesh, while the University of Sunderland and Coventry University have imposed similar restrictions.
Lower-fee institutions, which depend heavily on international students for revenue, have been particularly strained. The University of Hertfordshire and Glasgow Caledonian University have been placed under action plans mandating additional visa-compliance safeguards, prompting both to freeze certain intakes from Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Other universities — including Oxford Brookes, BPP University and London Metropolitan University — have implemented temporary limits as they adapt to the revised Home Office requirements.
As universities work to protect their sponsorship status, applicants from Pakistan and Bangladesh are facing unprecedented uncertainty in securing study opportunities in the UK.
