UCL Granted Extra CAS Numbers After Allocation Exceeded
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University College London (UCL) has been granted additional Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) allocations by the UK Home Office, after the institution exceeded its initial quota and left hundreds of international students in limbo.
Last week, reports emerged that UCL had contacted affected students, warning they might need to defer their studies until 2026. Many had already committed substantial sums on travel and accommodation, raising fears of financial loss and academic disruption.
The university initially attributed the problem to an “extraordinary surge in demand”. This week, UCL confirmed that extra CAS numbers have been secured, allowing affected students to begin their studies as planned.
A spokesperson for the institution apologised for the uncertainty and said staff were now contacting students directly. “We wholeheartedly apologise to all those who have been impacted by the recent uncertainty and we are incredibly grateful for their patience. Our teams are now working quickly to contact students directly with updates and support,” they said. The university also thanked the Home Office for acting swiftly to resolve the issue.
To help ease the situation, UCL has offered to cover GBP £1,000 for students applying through the UK Visa and Immigration ‘super priority service’.
The incident comes amid wider scrutiny of international student recruitment in the United Kingdom. UCL, which enrolled 51,793 students in 2024/25 – with more than half from overseas – relies heavily on international tuition fees. According to the Higher Education Policy Institute, the university could lose up to £42 million under the government’s proposed levy on international student income, a policy expected to hit major metropolitan institutions hardest.
While the immediate CAS shortage has been resolved, the episode highlights the pressures facing universities balancing unprecedented demand from international students with tightening immigration controls. For the UK, which has long promoted its higher education sector as a global leader, the case underscores the challenge of maintaining credibility with prospective students while navigating complex policy changes.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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