Sudanese students say UK visa ban has dashed hopes of studying at top universities

"More than 200 Sudanese postgraduates and undergraduates fear they will no longer be permitted to take up places at 46 universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London, with some claiming that their lives have been torn apart by the home secretary's blunt intervention."

"Asylum claims by students from Cameroon and Sudan spiked by more than 330%, posing an unsustainable threat to the UK's asylum system, a Home Office statement said. However, it is extremely unlikely that they will also be able to acquire a valid confirmation of acceptance for studies before the cutoff."

"Opponents say the government's claims of visa exploitation are a distortion, given that just 120 Sudanese students applied for asylum in the year up to September, out of a total of more than 110,000 asylum claims."

The UK Home Secretary suspended student visas for nationals from Sudan, Afghanistan, Cameroon, and Myanmar, citing concerns about visa exploitation and unsustainable asylum claims. Over 200 Sudanese postgraduates and undergraduates face cancelled university places at 46 institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London. The Home Office cited a 330% spike in asylum claims from Cameroon and Sudan students. However, critics argue the government's claims are distorted, noting only 120 Sudanese students applied for asylum out of 110,000 total claims. Affected students report devastation, with some having secured scholarships and research positions now rendered inaccessible due to the March 26 visa processing deadline.

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