The Universities of Sanctuary network, which now represents over a third of UK universities, has raised serious concerns about the UK Home Office’s recent decision to impose an “emergency brake” on student visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan starting 26 March 2026.
In a letter to Home Secretary Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood, the network highlighted the devastating impact this policy will have on talented students. Universities of Sanctuary are recognised for creating safe, welcoming, and accessible spaces for learners who have fled conflict, persecution, and political instability.
The letter emphasises that the visa restrictions are unlikely to ease broader asylum pressures but will remove one of the few official pathways for some of the brightest students from these countries to pursue world-class education in the UK. Many have already secured scholarships, including humanitarian awards and even prestigious schemes like Chevening, and now face the risk of being unable to start their studies.
Beyond the impact on individual students, the network warns that the policy undermines universities’ efforts to foster diversity, knowledge exchange, and global collaboration. International students enrich academic life and contribute to UK research, society, and innovation.
The Universities of Sanctuary network urges the Home Office to reconsider the visa brake and work with universities and civil society to develop sustainable humanitarian pathways, expanded scholarships, and protections for students from affected countries. In doing so, the UK can continue to uphold its humanitarian commitments and maintain its reputation as a global leader in higher education.