15 UK universities stop Pakistani students’ recruitment on visa issues?

UK Universities Face Pressure Over Student Visas

UK universities are withdrawing admission offers to international students, including applicants from Pakistan and Nigeria, amid stricter student visa rules. Institutions fear that high visa refusal rates could affect their permission to recruit students from abroad.

In the first half of 2026, 10.5% of UK study visa applications were withdrawn, compared with 2.3% during the same period in 2025 and 0.4% in 2023. The sharp increase has raised concerns among universities and international applicants.

Pakistani Students See a Sharp Increase in Withdrawals

An analysis of UK Home Office data by the Financial Times found that 40.9% of prospective Pakistani students had their study visa applications withdrawn in the first six months of 2026. This was a major increase from 3% during the same period in 2025.

International students can apply for a UK study visa only after receiving a university offer. If a university later cancels that offer, the related visa application is withdrawn, although applicants may withdraw applications for other reasons.

Why Are UK Universities Cancelling Admission Offers?

Universities have linked the rise in withdrawn applications to a doubling of student visa refusals by the UK Home Office during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. The increase has coincided with stricter rules for universities sponsoring international students.

Under the revised rules, universities risk losing their permission to recruit overseas students if more than 5% of prospective international students they admit have their visa applications rejected. The previous limit was 10%, putting greater pressure on institutions to manage visa refusal rates.

The higher refusal rates have largely affected nationalities that the UK government suspects of using student visas as a route to claim asylum. In response, universities have become more cautious about admitting students from countries facing higher rejection rates.

Pakistan, Nigeria and Bangladesh Face Higher Withdrawal Rates

According to figures from the higher education sector, around 15 UK universities have reportedly suspended recruitment from Pakistan entirely this year. However, the available information does not establish that all 15 institutions have officially announced a complete suspension.

Other countries have also recorded sharp increases in withdrawn study visa applications. Nigeria’s rate rose from 4.5% in the first half of 2025 to 22.7% in the same period of 2026, while Bangladesh’s rate increased from 7.1% to 23.5%.

India also recorded an increase, with its withdrawal rate rising from 1.2% to 5.2%. Meanwhile, data from Enroly, a company that processes student visa applications, suggests that nearly half of UK universities have visa refusal rates above the 5% threshold.

The figures show that Pakistani students are facing greater uncertainty when applying to UK universities. However, withdrawn visa applications do not necessarily mean that every student was refused a visa, as some applications were withdrawn after universities cancelled admission offers.

The stricter rules have also increased pressure on universities to control their visa refusal rates. Pakistani students should carefully check admission offers, university recruitment policies and visa requirements before making financial commitments.

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