UK Student Visa Rejection Rate Hits 4.9%, Up 55% Year-on-Year
The UK's rolling student visa rejection rate has reached 4.9% over the 12 months to June 2026, with refusals up 55% year-on-year and particularly high in "high-risk" countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. The tightening stance has coincided with a 42% drop in total visas issued and a 405% surge in withdrawn applications, prompting concerns about the sustainability of university funding that depends heavily on international student fees.