The introduction of stringent immigration rules from the Home Office, and rising concerns over alleged visa abuse, has prompted at least nine universities in the United Kingdom to suspend or restrict admissions for students from Pakistan and Bangladesh, according to the Financial Times.
In its report, the broadsheet said the varsities had placed both Pakistan and Bangladesh in a “high-risk” category for student visas, tightening their enrolment policies to protect their ability to sponsor international applicants. It notes that the decision follows a surge in asylum claims lodged by international students, leading to British ministers warning this has become a “backdoor” to settlement.
The Financial Times has said the University of Chester has suspended recruitment from Pakistan until autumn 2026, citing a “recent and unexpected rise in visa refusals.” Similarly, the University of Wolverhampton is not accepting undergraduate applications from either Pakistan or Bangladesh, while the University of East London has paused recruitment from Pakistan altogether.
Other institutions, including Sunderland, Coventry, Hertfordshire, Oxford Brookes, Glasgow Caledonian and BPP University have also halted or scaled back admissions from the two countries as part of “risk-mitigation” measures.
In September, the British government reduced the maximum visa refusal rate allowed for institutions sponsoring international students from 10% to 5%. Refusal rates for Pakistani and Bangladeshi student visa applications stand at 18% and 22%, respectively, far exceeding the new limit. According to the FT, applicants from both countries make up half of the 23,036 student visa refusals recorded by the Home Office from January to September 2025. It noted asylum claims from both nationalities had also risen, many involving students who first entered the U.K. on study or work visas.
For universities, the new compliance rules pose a financial dilemma, notes the FT. Lower-fee institutions rely heavily on international enrolments to stay afloat, and sector analysts warn that even a modest rise in problematic cases can push an institution above the refusal threshold.
Education consultants in Pakistan, meanwhile, say the sudden suspensions have left many genuine applicants stranded at the final stage of admission. They argue that weak oversight of recruitment agents has contributed to the problem and should be addressed by both U.K. institutions and local regulators.
Defending the tougher standards, a Home Office spokesperson said that while international students are valued, stricter enforcement is essential to ensure only genuine students enter and institutions uphold their responsibilities under the visa system.