UK universities are facing disruption to the January intake after visa delays left many international students unable to start their courses on time, following what the Home Office described as “unavoidable delays” caused by mandatory checks, according to a report by The PIE News.
The Home Office has written to universities offering to extend the latest date of acceptance for students still waiting for visa decisions, as processing delays stretched into February. Despite this, several institutions have already withdrawn Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) numbers to avoid breaching new compliance rules.
Delays hit January intake
As per The PIE News report, some students were prevented from enrolling in January even though universities had issued CAS numbers as early as September 2025. Many applicants were unable to travel after missing course start dates while waiting for visa decisions.
In communications reported by The PIE News, the Home Office invited institutions to allow later enrolment dates to help clear a backlog of applications. While Pakistan has been widely cited as facing delays, universities said students from other South Asian and African countries were also affected.
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Sector raises concern
Syed Nooh, head of global insights and market development at the University of East Anglia, told The PIE News that “a number of colleagues across the sector” had raised concerns that “up to 50% of students were still awaiting a decision” for the winter intake.
“At UEA, we issued almost all CAS numbers before Christmas to ensure students had ample time to submit their visa applications. Despite this proactive approach, a significant number of our students are still awaiting visa decisions,” Nooh said.
A representative from a Russell Group university described the scale of delays as a “new” and “concerning” issue for the institution.
Mixed data on processing times
Katie Layt, director of partnerships and growth at Enroly, told The PIE News that platform data showed overall CAS processing was faster than last year, despite issues at individual institutions.
“The recent uptick in India and Nigeria processing times reflects seasonal patterns rather than systemic delays,” Layt said. “Both countries are still processing significantly faster than last January.”
Home Office response and compliance pressure
“All visa applications are assessed on individual merit in line with immigration rules,” said a Home Office spokesperson told The PIE News.
“Where further information or checks are required, decisions may take longer. This helps prevent abuse of the immigration system and non-genuine students, including individuals who attempt to use the student route to claim asylum in the United Kingdom.”
The delays come as universities adjust to tighter Basic Compliance Assessment rules, where higher visa refusal rates could risk sponsor licences. As per The PIE News report, some universities have paused recruitment from certain countries and sought legal advice over the impact of visa delays and refusals.
The Home Office has written to universities offering to extend the latest date of acceptance for students still waiting for visa decisions, as processing delays stretched into February. Despite this, several institutions have already withdrawn Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) numbers to avoid breaching new compliance rules.
Delays hit January intake
As per The PIE News report, some students were prevented from enrolling in January even though universities had issued CAS numbers as early as September 2025. Many applicants were unable to travel after missing course start dates while waiting for visa decisions.In communications reported by The PIE News, the Home Office invited institutions to allow later enrolment dates to help clear a backlog of applications. While Pakistan has been widely cited as facing delays, universities said students from other South Asian and African countries were also affected.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
Sector raises concern
Syed Nooh, head of global insights and market development at the University of East Anglia, told The PIE News that “a number of colleagues across the sector” had raised concerns that “up to 50% of students were still awaiting a decision” for the winter intake.“At UEA, we issued almost all CAS numbers before Christmas to ensure students had ample time to submit their visa applications. Despite this proactive approach, a significant number of our students are still awaiting visa decisions,” Nooh said.
A representative from a Russell Group university described the scale of delays as a “new” and “concerning” issue for the institution.
Mixed data on processing times
Katie Layt, director of partnerships and growth at Enroly, told The PIE News that platform data showed overall CAS processing was faster than last year, despite issues at individual institutions.“The recent uptick in India and Nigeria processing times reflects seasonal patterns rather than systemic delays,” Layt said. “Both countries are still processing significantly faster than last January.”
Home Office response and compliance pressure
“All visa applications are assessed on individual merit in line with immigration rules,” said a Home Office spokesperson told The PIE News. “Where further information or checks are required, decisions may take longer. This helps prevent abuse of the immigration system and non-genuine students, including individuals who attempt to use the student route to claim asylum in the United Kingdom.”
The delays come as universities adjust to tighter Basic Compliance Assessment rules, where higher visa refusal rates could risk sponsor licences. As per The PIE News report, some universities have paused recruitment from certain countries and sought legal advice over the impact of visa delays and refusals.
