UK universities slash intake from Pakistan and Bangladesh

At least 9 UK universities have restricted or suspended admissions from Pakistan and Bangladesh amid tightened immigration controls and rising concerns over alleged visa misuse. According to the Financial Times, UK higher education institutions have imposed restrictions on applicants from what they classify as “high-risk” countries. The move follows a sharp rise in visa refusal rates and asylum claims linked to international students. 23,036 student visa refusals recorded by the Home Office in the year to September 2025.

Among the affected institutions, the University of Wolverhampton has stopped accepting undergraduate applications from both Bangladesh and Pakistan, while the Universities of Sunderland and Coventry have suspended recruitment from the two countries. London Metropolitan University has confirmed that it has halted Bangladeshi admissions, citing that 60 percent of its visa refusals came from Bangladeshi applicants. The University of Chester has suspended admissions from Pakistan until autumn 2026, and the University of Hertfordshire has paused recruitment from both countries until next year.

The tightening comes after the UK Home Office revised its Basic Compliance Assessment rules in September, lowering the acceptable visa refusal threshold for universities from 10 per cent to 5 per cent. Institutions that fail to meet the new standard risk losing their licence to sponsor international students. Official figures show that visa refusal rates for Bangladeshi and Pakistani applicants stood at 22 per cent and 18 per cent respectively as of September 2025, well above the new limit. Together, the two countries accounted for nearly half of the 23,036 student visa refusals during the period.

UK Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle has warned that the visa system must not be used as a “back door” to settlement, following a rise in asylum applications by foreign nationals who initially entered on student or work visas. Education consultants in both countries have expressed concern that genuine students are being affected by the growing restrictions, urging greater awareness and responsible use of student visa routes.