UK student visa refusals rise for Indian applicants amid tighter university rules

The Economic Times reports that the UK student visa refusal rate for Indian applicants was 4.2% in the 12 months ending June 30, 2026, up from 2.9% in the previous period. Since June, universities have had to keep refusal rates for their own sponsored applicants below 5%, down from a 10% threshold. The paper says the tighter rule could make some universities more cautious about recruitment, but it does not impose a blanket restriction on Indian applicants.