Why are UK Universities Saying No to Pakistani & Bangladeshi Students?

Several UK universities have restricted the recruitment of Pakistani and Bangladeshi students amid concerns over visa abuse and tougher Home Office rules.

At least nine institutions have placed both countries in a “high-risk” category for student visas. They have tightened enrolment to protect their ability to sponsor international applicants.

The move follows a surge in asylum claims by international students. UK ministers warned the study route “must not be used as a backdoor” to settlement.

The University of Chester has suspended recruitment from Pakistan until autumn 2026, citing a “recent and unexpected rise in visa refusals”.

The University of Wolverhampton is no longer accepting undergraduate applications from either Pakistan or Bangladesh. The University of East London has paused recruitment from Pakistan altogether.

London Metropolitan University has stopped recruitment from Bangladesh entirely, saying the country accounted for 60% of its visa refusals.

Sunderland, Coventry, Hertfordshire, Oxford Brookes, Glasgow Caledonian and private provider BPP University have also halted or scaled back admissions, describing the steps as risk-mitigation measures.

The restrictions follow a regulatory overhaul that took effect in September.

It reduced the maximum visa refusal rate allowed for sponsoring institutions from 10% to 5%.

Financial Times reported that refusal rates for Pakistani and Bangladeshi applicants stand at 18% and 22% respectively, far above the new limit.

Applicants from the two countries account for half of the 23,036 student visa refusals recorded by the Home Office in the year to September 2025.

Asylum claims from both nationalities have also risen. Many involve students who first entered the UK on study or work visas.

International higher education consultant Vincenzo Raimo said the crackdown had created a “real dilemma” for lower-fee universities reliant on overseas enrolments.

He warned that even limited problematic cases could jeopardise compliance with the tightened thresholds.

Education advisers have expressed frustration.

Maryem Abbas, founder of Lahore-based Edvance Advisors, described the decisions as “heartbreaking” for genuine students rejected at the final stage.

She said weak oversight of recruitment agents had driven misuse of the student route. She described it as a “moneymaking business”.

Universities UK International said some institutions would need to diversify recruitment and strengthen application checks to retain sponsorship rights.

It added that the new rules may be “challenging” but were essential to maintain confidence in the system.

A Home Office spokesperson said the government “strongly values” international students.

They said rules are being tightened to ensure those who come to Britain are genuine and providers uphold their responsibilities.