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Journalism of Courage
University College London (UCL) has run out of visa slots for international students, causing major problems at the start of the academic year. Many students, especially from China, who had met all the requirements, are now unable to begin their courses. The situation has led to confusion, financial difficulties, and frustration, with some students being told they may have to postpone their studies until 2026.
According to a report by The Guardian, about 200 Chinese students are among those affected. UCL informed them that it had exceeded its visa allocation for the upcoming academic year, which meant it could not issue the required Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), a key document students need to apply for UK study visas. Initially, some students were told they might have to defer their admission until 2026, a move that sparked widespread frustration and confusion.
The university said the situation stemmed from an unexpected spike in international applications. In a statement cited by The Guardian, a UCL spokesperson explained, “We’ve experienced significantly more applications and acceptances of offers than anticipated, and as a result, we have exceeded the number of confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) numbers allocated to us by the Home Office.”
The university added that its planning was based on previous years’ data and forecast models that considered attrition rates and expected trends. However, this year’s surge in demand, especially from international students, appears to have thrown those projections off course.
UCL said it was now in talks with the Home Office to secure additional CAS numbers and resolve the crisis “as quickly as possible.” In the meantime, it has reached out to affected students directly, offering apologies, support, and the option to defer their admission. The spokesperson also admitted that earlier communications “caused confusion and uncertainty,” and expressed regret for the distress caused.
For many affected students, the administrative lapse has already come at a significant financial and emotional cost. According to the report, they had already spent thousands of pounds on travel arrangements, application fees, and London accommodation, expenses that now hang in limbo.
Some students said they received emails from UCL just two weeks before term started, informing them that the university could not issue their CAS documents. One student, already in the UK, told the publication she now faced possible deportation without a valid student visa. Another mentioned that UCL staff had suggested a temporary fix could arrive soon, with remote learning options being explored while the visa issue is resolved.
The situation has left many students feeling disillusioned and helpless. One of the students said, “Myself and countless others navigated the arduous application process with precision and care. We met every deadline, submitted every required document, and against all odds, secured our unconditional offers well before the start of term.”
She added, “We are the model applicants any university would be proud to welcome. Yet, instead of preparing for our studies, we are now paying the price for an institutional failure that we could neither foresee nor prevent.”
The comment reflects growing anger among the student community, many of whom had built their academic plans, and major financial commitments, around what they believed was a confirmed place at one of the UK’s most prestigious universities.
The UK Home Office declined to comment specifically on UCL’s case. Under existing policy, universities must apply annually for CAS allocations, based on how many international students they expect to admit each academic year.
At UCL, international students make up more than half of its 52,000-strong student population, with around 14,000 from mainland China alone, according to the report. The situation at UCL reinforces a growing tension within UK higher education institutions, the balancing act between welcoming international students and navigating tightening immigration oversight. With international enrolments forming a major revenue source, universities rely heavily on accurate forecasts to manage their visa quotas.
