UK universities count cost of foreign students’ visa crackdown – Businessday NG

…as Bradford University’s VC decries the negative effects

The UK’s crackdown on foreign student visas is taking a growing toll on universities, with institutions facing mounting financial losses as prospective international students are turned away.

Gillian Murray, vice-chancellor of the University of Bradford, recently raised the alarm over the adverse impact of the restrictions, warning of the wider implications for the future of higher education.

According to a report by Times Higher Education (THE), Murray says the UK government’s strict new visa regime, which has seen scores of potential students rejected on spurious grounds, affects all universities but hits harder in Bradford.

Recall that BusinessDay reported earlier that Nigeria records a rise in application withdrawals on the back of the UK’s new policy. The United Kingdom is cutting foreign students’ visas, especially those from Nigeria and Pakistan, in line with its new policy.

The new policy makes it difficult for foreign students to study in the UK despite the incredibly high tuition fees they pay.

The University of Bradford’s vice-chancellor emphasised that countries being deprioritised for visas, such as India and Pakistan, are where many of the city’s domestic students have roots.

Murray, who became vice-chancellor at the University of Bradford earlier this year, has had to suspend recruitment for fear that a high number of rejections could put the institution’s sponsorship licence at risk.

And this has prompted questions from the city’s representatives asking why, risking civic relations at a time when community engagement is supposed to be prioritised.

Murray emphasised that the student visa refusals hit differently in Bradford, amid the argument that Andy Burnham’s devolution drive has already been felt with the recent promise of a new train station for the city.

However, she hopes other opportunities will follow as Burnham looks to invest in innovation outside of London. “But, as is often the case, the government is giving with one hand and taking away with the other,” she noted.

The report stated that Murray, who has only recently made Bradford her home, is passionate about Burnham’s devolution project and will be hoping more investment and attention comes the way of such places, with talk of regionalised research spending and skills planning.

Investing in “the fifth or sixth largest city in the UK” is a no-brainer, believes Murray, but “focusing locally doesn’t mean you take your eye off the ball in terms of national and global concerns.”

However, it is the Burnham government’s international approach that is causing more of a headache for Murray.

She expressed concerns that, except the Westminster office reverses the new rules, as visa rejections rise, universities are at risk of losing their sponsorship licence if their refusal rate tips above five percent.

“It’s a really big concern,” said Murray. “When I came in here, I had to make some hard decisions about not supporting certain markets internationally going forward because of that risk.

“However, we have a multicultural city…about 80 per cent of our students are from the local area here in Bradford, and a high percentage of those will be from families from the countries and communities that UK visas and immigration are not accepting at the moment.

“So that’s a difficult cultural decision to come in as a leader who’s welcoming of different cultures and willing to bring people together.”

Those from India, Pakistan and Nigeria are significantly more likely to be turned down. In Bradford, where about 25 percent of the population is of Pakistani descent, it is very much a live issue.

Murray said she had faced lobbying from local leaders to rethink her decision. “We do get letters from the community and letters from the local MP about what’s happening,” she said. “It’s a really challenging time for all universities but for us in particular because of that multicultural dynamic.”

The Burnham new rule changes include reducing post- study work rights to 18 months as against two years, starting January 2027, raising proof-of-living expense requirements, and enforcing stricter compliance rules that have led UK universities to pre-emptively withdraw admission offers.

With the new policy, from November 30, 2026, students must show increased monthly maintenance funds of £1,570 per month in London and £1,203 per month outside London.

In the face of the rule, UK universities face severe licence risks if their student visa refusal rate exceeds five percent.

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