UK Admissions Ban 2025 has created shock among Pakistani and Bangladeshi students. Several universities in the United Kingdom have suspended or restricted admissions from these two countries after stricter immigration rules and rising visa concerns.
According to reports, at least nine universities now consider both nations to be “high-risk” for student visas. They have tightened enrollment procedures to safeguard their sponsorship rights.
Due to a sharp increase in visa denials, the University of Chester has suspended hiring from Pakistan until fall 2026. Undergraduate applications from Bangladesh and Pakistan are not being accepted by Wolverhampton University. Additionally, recruitment from Pakistan has ceased at the University of East London.
As part of risk-control measures, other universities, such as Sunderland, Coventry, Hertfordshire, Oxford Brookes, Glasgow Caledonian, and BPP University, have suspended or decreased admissions.
The crackdown comes after new regulations were implemented in September 2025. The maximum visa refusal rate for sponsoring institutions was reduced by these regulations from 10% to 5%. However, the rejection rates for students from Bangladesh and Pakistan are significantly higher, at 22% and 18%, respectively, well above the new cap. Half of the 23,036 student visa denials reported by the UK Home Office in the previous year came from applicants from these two nations combined.
The limitations are difficult for universities that rely on international enrollment, according to education consultants. For sincere students who are losing out on opportunities despite fulfilling requirements, advisors in Pakistan describe the rulings as “heartbreaking.”
International students are appreciated, according to the UK Home Office, but regulations must be stringent to guarantee that only legitimate applicants are accepted and that academic institutions adhere to compliance standards.
Also read: Dream of Studying in UK? Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2026 Fully Funded for Pakistan
