UK Universities Withdraw Offers as Nigerian Student Visa Refusals Rise

Some UK universities are withdrawing admission offers to international applicants, including Nigerians, as tighter visa rules expose institutions to penalties when too many applicants are refused. Home Office data cited by the Financial Times shows that 22.7% of Nigerian study-visa applications were withdrawn in the first half of 2026, up from 4.5% in the same period last year. Universities can only issue visa sponsorship after making an offer, so rescinding an offer results in the visa application being withdrawn. Under the revised rules, universities may lose the right to recruit overseas students if more than 5% of applicants they sponsor are refused visas, down from the previous 10% threshold. University leaders say unpredictable refusals are forcing them to reduce recruitment from countries with higher rejection rates, potentially limiting opportunities for Nigerians seeking UK education.

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