UK universities are withdrawing admission offers to applicants from Nigeria and Pakistan as the British government tightens visa rules, according to a Financial Times report. The share of UK study visa applications withdrawn rose to 10.5 per cent in the first half of 2026, from 2.3 per cent in the same period of 2025 and 0.4 per cent in 2023. For Nigerian applicants, the figure jumped to 22.7 per cent from 4.5 per cent. Home Office visa refusals also doubled. Data cited in the report shows nearly half of UK universities are above a 5 per cent refusal threshold, putting them at risk of a ban on recruiting international students. University leaders warned that the trend could lead to restructuring, job losses and course closures.