UK universities scrap admission offers for Bangladeshi students

Universities across the United Kingdom are increasingly cancelling admission offers to Bangladeshi students amid a sharp rise in student visa application withdrawals, as institutions move to protect their licences to recruit international students under tighter government rules.

The withdrawal rate for Bangladeshi student visa applications surged to 23.5 per cent in the first half of this year, up from just 7.1 per cent during the same period last year, according to an analysis of UK Home Office data reported by the Financial Times.

The trend is not limited to Bangladesh. Students from Pakistan, Nigeria and several other countries are also facing greater scrutiny, with some universities withdrawing admission offers as a precaution against potential visa refusals.

Under new UK government rules, universities risk losing their licences to sponsor international students if more than 5 per cent of the visa applications they support are withdrawn or refused, tightening the previous threshold of 10 per cent. The measures are intended to curb the misuse of the student visa system.


The data show a particularly steep increase in visa application withdrawals among Pakistani students. The rate climbed to 40.9 per cent in the first six months of this year, compared with just 3 per cent during the same period last year.

For Indian applicants, the rate rose from 1.2 per cent to 5.2 per cent, while Bangladesh recorded an increase from 7.1 per cent to 23.5 per cent.


University officials say the sudden increase in visa refusals has prompted institutions to take preventive measures, including cancelling some admission offers before students proceed further with their applications.

International students generally need an offer of admission from a university before they can apply for a UK student visa. With institutions facing the prospect of losing their sponsorship licences if visa outcomes exceed the permitted threshold, universities are becoming more cautious about the applicants they accept.

The policy has raised concerns about the potential impact on the diversity of international student recruitment, particularly for applicants from countries experiencing rising visa withdrawal rates.

Professor Steven McGuire, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of East Anglia, warned that the rules could push universities to rely more heavily on students from China and India, where visa refusal rates are comparatively lower.

The developments could make the UK admissions process increasingly uncertain for Bangladeshi students, even those who have already received university offers, as institutions seek to avoid penalties under the tightened immigration framework.