Visa brake

The UK Government has introduced new, temporary immigration measures called a visa brake. These measures apply from 26 March 2026.

The visa brake affect applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan who are applying for a sponsored Student Visa from outside the UK. It applies to nationals of those countries regardless of where they are submitting their application from.

If you are an applicant and are currently outside of the UK

UKVI have stated that from 26 March 2026, study visa applications from main applicants outside of the UK will be refused.
Please check your correspondence from UWE Bristol for clarification about how this will affect you.

If you are a current UWE Bristol student in the UK

UKVI have confirmed the following:

The brake does not affect current permission to stay and does not cancel or change the conditions of existing visas.
If you are already in the UK you can extend your Student Visa or switch into other visa routes at the end of your current visa (provided you meet the relevant eligibility requirements for doing so).

If you are a current UWE Bristol student outside of the UK

Under the visa brake guidance, applications made outside of the UK after 25 March 2026 will be refused. There does not appear to be any exceptions for applications made by current or previous students who are applying from outside of the UK.