Several universities in the United Kingdom have withdrawn admission offers to Nigerian and Pakistani students following tighter visa rules introduced by the British government for international applicants.
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The affected institutions reportedly revoked offers made mainly to applicants from the two countries during the first half of 2026, amid concerns that stricter immigration enforcement could affect their ability to recruit international students.
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According to a report published by the Financial Times on Saturday, 10.5 per cent of UK study visa applications were withdrawn during the first six months of 2026. This represented a sharp increase from 2.3 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025 and 0.4 per cent in 2023.
The report linked the rise partly to universities withdrawing admission offers in response to tougher measures by the UK Home Office. Institutions were reportedly concerned that high visa refusal rates could expose them to restrictions on recruiting students from overseas.
Figures cited in the report showed that 22.7 per cent of study visa applications from Nigeria were withdrawn in the first half of 2026, compared with 4.5 per cent during the corresponding period in 2025.
The increase in visa refusals was reportedly driven in part by applications from individuals suspected by British authorities of using student visas as a route to claim asylum in the country.
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However, visa applications can be withdrawn for other reasons, and the figures do not necessarily mean that every affected applicant was refused a visa.
Data from visa application processing firm Enroly indicated that nearly half of UK universities had visa refusal rates exceeding the five per cent threshold. Institutions that cross the threshold could face restrictions on recruiting international students.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sunderland, Sir David Bell, said the situation had forced institutions to reduce recruitment activities in international markets where visa applications were facing stricter scrutiny.
Vanessa Wilson, chief executive of University Alliance, which represents 20 professional and technical universities, warned that the developments could have wider consequences for the higher education sector.
She said the financial pressure could lead to organisational restructuring, job losses, course cancellations and the closure of some campuses.
The developments have created further uncertainty for Nigerian students seeking admission to British universities, particularly those who have received offers but have yet to complete the visa application process.
The situation also presents challenges for universities that rely on international student recruitment to support their finances, with continued visa restrictions potentially affecting enrolment, staffing and course provision.
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