UK Student Visa Curbs Affect Applicants From Cameroon and Three Other Countries

The UK Home Office tightened student visa rules in March 2026 for applicants from Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar and Cameroon, and the effect is already visible in individual cases. One Afghan woman accepted onto a medical pathway at the University of Glasgow, with her tuition and living costs covered, has been refused a student visa three times and cannot take up the place.

Key facts

• March 2026: the Home Office introduced what has been described as a visa brake on student applications from Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar and Cameroon.
• The student at the centre of the case, identified only as Sara, applied days before the new restrictions took effect.
• She held an offer from the University of Glasgow's School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing for a gateway course leading towards a medical degree.
• Bursaries covered her tuition and living expenses, yet her visa was refused three times.
• The Home Office gave conflicting grounds for the refusals across the decisions.
• 28 September: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government would reactivate a refugee resettlement route, naming Afghan women and girls among those who could benefit.

What is changing?

In March 2026 the Home Office brought in restrictions affecting student visa applications from four countries: Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar and Cameroon. The source does not set out the specific requirements introduced, any new fees, or how long the measures will remain in place.

Who is affected?

Student applicants from Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar and Cameroon fall under the new restrictions. In the case described, the applicant had met the university's academic conditions and had secured funding for tuition and living costs through bursaries, but still could not obtain permission to travel to Scotland.

Why was the visa refused?

The three refusals gave different reasons. In the first decision, officials accepted that the applicant had sufficient funds but did not consider her a genuine student. A later decision accepted that she was a genuine student but questioned whether she had enough money for her studies and living expenses. She also took part in a phone interview of around 90 minutes with a Home Office official covering her parents, family history and background, and was told to keep checking her email before a further rejection arrived.

What other UK policy changes were announced?

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the Labour Party conference on 28 September that the government would reactivate a refugee resettlement route, highlighting Afghan women and girls among those who could benefit. Later details indicated that access would be limited for some groups; Palestinians, for example, would need to have already left Gaza and be registered as refugees with the United Nations. The wider refugee family reunion scheme also remained suspended after more than a year.

What this means for travellers

Applicants from Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar and Cameroon planning UK study should expect their student visa applications to be handled under the restrictions introduced in March 2026. In the case reported, a university offer and confirmed funding were not enough on their own to secure a visa, and refusal reasons varied between decisions. Students in this position may find it useful to keep clear records of funding and study plans before applying.

The applicant is now studying accounting and finance in another country, which she has not named for safety reasons, and still hopes to return to medical training. No further changes to the UK student visa rules have been announced in the source.