Leading universities urge Shabana Mahmood to exempt exceptional students from visa ban

Leading universities have urged Shabana Mahmood to exempt outstanding students in some conflict-stricken countries from a draconian visa ban.

Some 34 universities, represented by higher-education associations the Russell Group and ResearchPlus, have written to the home secretary to plea for a carve-out for Chevening scholars, a government-funded programme that enables outstanding emerging leaders from around the world to do a one-year master’s degree in the UK.

The Home Office ended study visas for students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan in March, after Ms Mahmood claimed the visa routes were being abused. As a result, Chevening scholars from these countries are unable to come to the UK.

In a letter sent to Ms Mahmood, the two associations which represent the University of Cambridge, Durham, Manchester, and Imperial College London among others, said the application of the visa ban to Chevening scholars was not “fair or proportionate”, adding that applicants have “already undergone rigorous, government-led assessment”.

They hit back at the claims that the system was being abused, saying: “Our universities take their compliance responsibilities seriously and support appropriate measures to protect the integrity of student visas.

“The vast majority of international study applicants are genuine, and it is in all our interests that the system remains credible.”

They described the visa brake as a “blunt measure”, adding: “These [Chevening] candidates are selected through a global competitive process overseen by the UK government which assesses academic merit, leadership potential, and their intention to return to their home countries following their studies.”

Professor Libby Hackett, of The Russell Group and Professor Andrew Jones and Professor Sasha, of Research Plus, who represent the University of Oxford and the Open University, described the Chevening programme as a “highly competitive and well-regarded scheme” that “played a central role in advancing the UK’s international partnerships and national interests”.

Some 22 of the scheme’s alumni have gone on to be heads of state and 15 per cent hold prominent positions in government, the letter, shared with The Independent says.

Sasha Roseneil, co-chair of ResearchPlus and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex, said “we risk turning away tomorrow’s leaders by placing restrictions on outstanding scholars who have already passed the government’s own rigorous selection process”.

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper reportedly appealed to Ms Mahmood for an exemption for Chevening students, with Ms Cooper concerned about the impact of the decision on vulnerable women in Afghanistan and Sudan. Ms Mahmood reportedly rejected the intervention.

According to Home Office data published this week, 10,835 people on a study visa went on to claim asylum in the UK in the year up to March 2026. Hundreds of thousands of people are granted student visas each year, and there were some 498,626 grants in the peak year ending June 2023.

The number of students who go on to claim asylum is decreasing, prompted by the fall in study visas granted following restrictions on family members coming to the UK.

The most common nationalities claiming asylum in the year up to March 2026 were Pakistani, with the vast majority arriving in Britain on legal visas, and Eritreans, most of which have arrived illegally. This was followed by Iran and Afghanistan, with majority of these nationals also arriving irregularly, such as via small boat crossings.

The Chevening scheme offers more than 1,000 scholarships each year for promising students from around the world.

Libby Hackett, Chief Executive of the Russell Group, said: “Chevening Scholars have shown themselves to be exceptionally talented individuals who use their education in the UK to make invaluable contributions in their home countries. We should be making every effort to attract and support these students, not creating more barriers for them”.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.