UK Universities Withdraw Admissions for Nigerian Students

UK universities have withdrawn admission offers primarily to Nigerian and Pakistani applicants in the first half of 2026, responding to stricter visa requirements and a rise in study visa refusals by the UK Home Office. The Financial Times reported that 10.5% of UK study visa applications were withdrawn in this period, a significant increase from 2.3% in the same period of 2025 and 0.4% in 2023.

Specifically, Nigeria saw a 22.7% withdrawal rate for study visa applications, up from 4.5% in 2025. Universities are concerned that high visa refusal rates could jeopardize their ability to recruit international students, with fears that continued issues may lead to a ban on recruiting from abroad.

The tightening of immigration controls is linked to suspicions of applicants using student visas to enter the UK and seek asylum. Nearly half of UK universities have visa refusal rates exceeding the five percent threshold, risking restrictions on international recruitment.