Hundreds of international students accepted to University College London (UCL) are now facing uncertainty just days before the academic year begins. The university has accepted it has run out of visa slots, leaving students, particularly from China, unable to start their courses and facing potentially thousands of pounds in unexpected costs, Guardian reported,
Hundreds of Intl students stranded as UCL runs out of visa slots
About 200 students from China alone have been affected, according to Guardian. UCL informed them that it had exceeded its visa allocation for the upcoming academic year, meaning it could not issue the “required Confirmation of Acceptance” for Studies (CAS). This document is important for applying for a UK student visa. Just over half of UCL’s 52,000 students are from overseas, with around 14,000 from China.
Initially, students were told they might have to defer their studies until 2026. For many students, the administrative failure has already cost thousands of pounds. Travel, visa applications, and London housing were arranged based on confirmed offers that are now in doubt. One student said, “We did everything right, yet we are the ones paying the price for an institutional error.”
Several students told the Guardian they received notifications from UCL just two weeks before term was due to start. One student, already in the UK, faces possible deportation without a valid visa. Others have been informed that UCL is exploring temporary solutions, including remote learning, while negotiating additional CAS numbers with the Home Office.
One Chinese student said: “Myself and countless others navigated the arduous application process with precision and care. We met every deadline, submitted every required document, and secured our unconditional offers well before the start of term. We are the model applicants any university would be proud to welcome. Yet, instead of preparing for our studies, we are now paying the price for an institutional failure that we could neither foresee nor prevent.”
UCL responds
UCL has blamed the crisis on “an extraordinary surge in demand.” A spokesperson explained: “We’ve experienced significantly more applications and acceptances of offers than anticipated, and as a result, we have exceeded the number of confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) numbers allocated to us by the Home Office. Our planning is based on historical data and expected trends which take account of attrition rates and other factors.”
The university said it is urgently negotiating with the Home Office for additional CAS numbers and is reaching out to affected students to provide support, including deferring their admission if needed. The spokesperson also acknowledged that some recent communications “caused confusion and uncertainty” and apologised for the distress caused.
The UK Home Office declined to comment specifically on UCL’s case. They clarified that universities themselves are responsible for managing CAS allocations