UK universities withdraw admission offers to Nigerian students

By Seun Adeyi

Some universities in the United Kingdom have withdrawn admission offers to Nigerian and other international students amid stricter student visa checks and rising visa refusals, according to a report by the *Financial Times*.

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The report said 22.7 per cent of study visa applications from Nigeria were withdrawn in the first half of 2026, compared with 4.5 per cent during the same period in 2025.

Across all applicants, the proportion of withdrawn UK study visa applications rose to 10.5 per cent in the first six months of 2026, from 2.3 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025 and 0.4 per cent in 2023.

The report attributed the development to concerns among universities that high visa refusal rates could affect their ability to recruit international students.

It said some institutions had withdrawn offers to applicants, including Nigerians and Pakistanis, because they feared stricter immigration controls could lead to restrictions on overseas recruitment.

The British government has raised concerns about people suspected of using student visas to enter the country before applying for asylum. Asylum is protection sought by people who say they cannot safely return to their home countries.

Data from Enroly, a company that provides visa application processing services, indicated that nearly half of UK universities had visa refusal rates above the five per cent threshold that could expose them to restrictions on international recruitment.

The development could affect universities that depend on tuition fees from overseas students to support their academic programmes and operations.

Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sunderland, said his institution had reduced recruitment efforts in some international markets in response to the tougher approach to visa applications.

Vanessa Wilson, chief executive of University Alliance, a group of 20 professional and technical universities, warned that the situation could lead to job losses and the closure of courses and campuses.

The reported withdrawals raise concerns for Nigerian students planning to study in the UK, as admission offers do not guarantee that applicants will receive visas.

Prospective students have been advised to check the latest visa requirements through official UK government channels and ensure that their applications contain accurate information and all required supporting documents.