The University of Sunderland has paused the progression of applications from applicants residing in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, for courses scheduled to begin in January, February and April 2027. The decision, communicated to recruitment partners, means applications for the affected intakes will not be progressed.
According to the university, the decision follows an increase in student visa refusal risk across the UK higher education sector. The Uni said it had not taken the decision lightly and that it was necessary to manage the risk while protecting the interests of students, recruitment partners and the university.
It also warned that a visa refusal can have long-term consequences for an individual’s immigration record and future UK visa applications. Adding that by taking action at this stage, prospective students may be better placed to consider alternative study options and future opportunities to study in the UK.
A spokesman for the University of Sunderland said: “The University closely monitors visa refusal rates, particularly following the Home Office’s reduction of the acceptable threshold from 10% to 5%. Our data is analysed across a range of factors, including nationality, and current refusal rates are higher in some African markets than in other regions.
“To ensure continued compliance with the mandatory visa refusal requirement, the University has decided to limit its intake of international students for the remainder of this academic year. This decision is necessary to protect the University’s Student Sponsor Licence and maintain our ability to recruit international students.
“There appears to have been significant changes in the patterns of visa refusals, and this has affected many universities across the country. As yet, it is not clear what is driving such changes from the Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration. However, the University is keen to understand better the policy framework so that it can adjust its international student recruitment strategy accordingly.”
What happens to affected applicants?
In its message to recruitment partners, the University of Sunderland said that applications for the affected intakes will be withdrawn. Applicants who have already paid a tuition fee deposit will receive a “full refund” in line with the university’s refund procedures.
Students who wish to be considered for a future intake will need to submit a new application when recruitment resumes. The university stressed that the decision applies specifically to the January, February and April 2027 intakes, rather than representing a permanent closure of recruitment from the affected countries.
The management also said it is reviewing its approach to future recruitment and expects to engage with partners in the coming months. According to the university’s communication, recruitment opportunities are expected to be considered for programmes commencing from September 2027 onwards.
The university acknowledged that the announcement could be disappointing for prospective students and recruitment partners, but said the measures were intended to manage the current visa-refusal risks while protecting its ability to continue recruiting international students in the future.