LONDON — A number of universities in the United Kingdom have tightened admission procedures for Bangladeshi students amid stricter student visa compliance requirements, with some institutions reportedly suspending applications from Bangladesh altogether and others imposing restrictions based on region, course or degree level.
The measures have emerged as universities seek to protect their student-sponsor licences under revised UK visa compliance rules. According to a report by Bangla Tribune, some institutions have also restricted the issuance of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), a document required by international students applying for a UK student visa.
Under the revised UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Basic Compliance Assessment framework, institutions face the risk of losing their sponsor licences if their student visa refusal rate reaches 5% or more, compared with a previous threshold of 10%.
The report, citing the latest Home Office data, said the visa refusal rate among Bangladeshi applicants was around 22%. It also reported that applicants from Bangladesh and Pakistan accounted for a significant share of rejected student visa applications.
Against this backdrop, several universities have reportedly introduced measures to reduce compliance risks. In many cases, the restrictions have not been formally announced as nationwide bans.
Universities suspending applications from Bangladesh
According to information cited in the report, Anglia Ruskin University, Kingston University, Keele University, Ravensbourne University London, De Montfort University, Oxford Brookes University, the University of Sunderland, the University of Portsmouth, Coventry University, Middlesex University and the University of Roehampton have suspended applications from Bangladesh.
The list also includes the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Some branch campuses of Ulster University and Northumbria University operated through QA Higher Education have reportedly stopped issuing CAS to Bangladeshi students.
Additional restrictions for students from Sylhet
The report said students from Sylhet have faced additional restrictions at some institutions, with universities’ compliance teams paying closer attention to applicants from the region.
International education consultants cited in the report attributed the increased scrutiny to issues including inconsistencies in financial documents, failures in visa or credibility interviews and asylum claims made after students arrive in the UK.
The University of South Wales, Aberystwyth University, the University of Chester, Canterbury Christ Church University, Regent College London and the University of Brighton have reportedly stopped direct admissions for students from Sylhet.
Similar restrictions are said to apply at some branch campuses of Aston University and the University of Hull.
London South Bank University has reportedly suspended undergraduate applications from students in Dhaka and Sylhet, while Cardiff Metropolitan University has introduced undergraduate restrictions for applicants from Bangladesh and imposed tighter measures on those from Sylhet.
The University of Bedfordshire, meanwhile, has reportedly temporarily suspended applications from students in districts across Bangladesh other than Dhaka.
Some universities have opted for course- or degree-specific restrictions rather than suspending all applications.
Birmingham City University and Buckinghamshire New University have reportedly suspended applications for undergraduate programmes and Master of Research (MRes) courses.
The University of Law and the University of Hertfordshire have reportedly restricted admissions for students from Sylhet as well as for certain business and management programmes. The University of Wolverhampton has also reportedly suspended undergraduate applications and selected business courses for students from Sylhet.
The University of Derby and the University of Greater Manchester have reportedly stopped accepting applications for MRes and PhD-level programmes.
Education consultants cited by the report said the measures were linked not to academic considerations but to concerns over visa compliance, financial documentation, interview performance and an increase in asylum claims after arrival in the UK.
However, university policies and course availability can change quickly. Consultants have therefore advised prospective students to confirm directly with the relevant university that applications are being accepted and CAS certificates can be issued before paying any non-refundable tuition fees.
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