, Dec. 4 -- Several UK universities have suspended or restricted applications from Bangladesh and Pakistan, citing concerns over visa abuses and new Home Office rules.

At least nine institutions have altered their recruitment policies, following a rise in international student asylum claims that prompted warnings from Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle about misuse of the student visa system as a backdoor to UK residency, reports Financial Times.

The University of Chester, for example, has halted recruitment from Pakistan until autumn 2026 due to "a recent and unexpected rise in visa refusals." The University of Wolverhampton is not accepting undergraduate applications from Bangladesh and Pakistan, while the University of East L...