Hundreds of international students accepted to University College London (UCL) are facing uncertainty and potential financial losses after the university admitted it had run out of places just days before the new academic year. According to a report by the Guardian, about 200 students from China alone are affected after UCL exceeded its visa allocations for the upcoming year, initially asking students to defer their studies until 2026.

The university blamed “an extraordinary surge in demand” for over-recruitment and said it is negotiating with the Home Office to increase its visa allocation. Several students told the Guardian they had already spent thousands of pounds on travel, application fees, and accommodation in London after receiving acceptance.

Students reported that UCL contacted them two weeks ago, saying it could not issue a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS), an essential electronic document required for student visas. One student already in the UK said she faced deportation without a visa, while another said UCL staff had promised a resolution, including the possibility of remote learning, by the end of the week.

A UCL spokesperson said, “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.

“We are urgently working with the Home Office to secure additional CAS numbers and are doing everything we can to resolve this as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we are contacting affected students directly to explain the situation, offer our sincere apologies, and provide support including the option to defer their place to next year.

“We also recognise that some of our recent communications have caused confusion and uncertainty, and we are sincerely sorry for that.”

Understanding the Visa Allocation System
In the UK, universities are issued a fixed number of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) numbers each year by the Home Office. These numbers are required for international students to apply for a student visa. The allocation is based on forecasts of how many international students each university expects to admit, taking into account historical admission trends and expected attrition rates.

UCL said its planning relied on historical data, but the university experienced an “extraordinary surge in demand” this year. This led to UCL exceeding its allocated CAS numbers, leaving many students without the necessary documentation to secure a student visa.

The situation highlights the challenges universities face in balancing demand from international applicants with the constraints of visa allocations, and the financial and logistical difficulties that can arise for affected students.