The UK government has announced new measures that could see universities stripped of their right to recruit international students if too many drop out, amid concerns that courses are being exploited for visa abuse. The Home Office unveiled the reforms on Thursday, aiming to “tighten the screws” on those using universities as a backdoor to enter Britain on false pretences.
Under the new sponsorship rules, universities must achieve a course completion rate of at least 90%, up from 85%, and an enrolment rate of at least 95%, up from 90%. A traffic light rating system will be introduced from summer 2027, with institutions rated red facing restrictions on student recruitment and required to fund a 12-month action plan. Those failing to improve could lose their sponsorship rights entirely.
Home Office data shows that student asylum claims have fallen by 30% in the last year, with 10,835 people on a study visa claiming asylum in the year to March 2026. This compares to 498,626 study visa grants in the peak year ending June 2023. The most common nationalities claiming asylum were Pakistani, Eritrean, Iranian, and Afghan.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp said: “The UK will always welcome genuine international students, but our visa system must not be used as a backdoor to asylum and illegal working.” He added that those seeking to “game the system” should know the government is watching.
Professor Malcolm Press, president of Universities UK, warned that international students contribute £37 billion in export earnings, and that recent sharp declines have led to cost-cutting and job losses. He called for “policy stability, transparent visa decision-making, and real-time data” to build a fair system that works in the national interest.
