Check a UK University's Student Sponsor Licence Before You Pay From Pakistan
Check a UK university's Student sponsor licence on the free Home Office register before paying a deposit, and spot the action plan flag and new 5% refusal rule.
Before you pay a UK university or college a deposit, check that it holds a Student sponsor licence on the Home Office register at gov.uk. Only a licensed sponsor can give you a CAS, the number your visa needs. Then check whether it is "Subject To Action Plan", which means UK Visas and Immigration has flagged its record.
Pakistani students are now caught in a tighter UK system. Reports from the UK this week say several universities have paused or limited applications from Pakistan, and the Home Office has raised the bar its sponsors must clear. A university that loses its licence cannot sponsor you, even after you have paid. A five minute check on the official register protects your money and your visa history.
| What to check | Where | What a safe answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Is it licensed? | Register of licensed sponsors: students, gov.uk | Name listed with Route "Student" |
| What status? | "Status" column | Student Sponsor or Student Sponsor, Track Record |
| Any warning? | "Immigration Compliance" column | Blank |
| Right campus? | "Town/City" and "Additional Locations" | Your campus named |
| Is it degree-awarding? | Sponsor Type | Higher Education Institution (HEI) |
The register of licensed student sponsors is free to check
The Home Office publishes the Register of licensed sponsors: students as a spreadsheet on gov.uk, and updates it almost every working day. Any university, college or school that can issue a CAS must appear on it with the Route "Student" or "Child Student".
We downloaded the version dated 9 October 2026. It holds 1,298 entries. Of those, 755 are on the Student route, the one for adults going to university, and the rest are on the Child Student route for boarding schools. About 220 different universities and overseas higher education bodies hold a Student licence.
- Open gov.uk and search "Register of licensed sponsors: students".
- Download the latest file. It opens in Excel or Google Sheets.
- Press Ctrl and F and type the university's name exactly as on your offer letter.
- Check that the Route says "Student", not only "Child Student".
- Read the Status and Immigration Compliance columns for that row.
- Match the town to your campus. A London branch of a northern university is listed separately under Additional Locations.
If the name is missing, stop. Ask the university in writing for its licence details, and do not pay until you see it listed.
Three sponsor statuses tell you how established a university is
The Status column shows one of three labels. "Student Sponsor - Track Record" is the strongest. "Student Sponsor" is a normal licence. "Probationary Sponsor" is a new licence holder that has not yet passed its first yearly compliance check, so it has fewer freedoms.
In the 9 October register, 932 entries were Student Sponsor, 300 were Track Record and 66 were Probationary. A probationary sponsor is not unsafe in itself. But the Home Office's own explanatory memorandum for the September 2026 rule changes notes that probationary sponsors cannot offer work placements on courses below degree level. If your course has a placement year, ask about it.
"Subject To Action Plan" is the warning flag to look for
An action plan is put on a sponsor that has fallen below a Home Office compliance standard. The Home Office guidance says a first red rating brings an action plan of at least 12 months, a cut of at least 10 per cent in its CAS allocation, and a final warning.
Sixteen rows in the 9 October register carried the "Subject To Action Plan" note. They belonged to 13 institutions, seven of them universities: De Montfort University, Glasgow Caledonian University, London South Bank University, University for the Creative Arts, University of Essex, University of Lincoln and University of the West of England. These universities are still licensed and can still sponsor students.
So what does it mean for you? Fewer CAS numbers to go round, and a university under pressure to accept only applicants it is sure will get a visa. Expect closer checks on your funds, your study gap and your English. Ask the admissions office directly whether it is accepting Pakistani applicants this intake.
The 5 per cent refusal rule explains why universities are cautious
Every UK sponsor must pass a Basic Compliance Assessment, or BCA, each year. For assessments applied for on or after 1 June 2026, the visa refusal rate among its students must be under 5 per cent, down from 10 per cent. A university with many refused Pakistani applicants risks its licence.
The full standard, from the Home Office's Student sponsor compliance guidance, has three parts. Refusals must stay below 5 per cent. At least 95 per cent of students given visas must enrol. At least 85 per cent must complete their course, rising to 90 per cent for assessments from 1 June 2027.
The guidance also brings in a Red, Amber and Green rating. Green needs refusals under 4 per cent. A sponsor's rating is set by its weakest score, and the rating is to be published on the register. One more detail matters: if a university withdraws your CAS before a visa decision, that case is not counted in its refusal rate. That is one reason some offers are being pulled before students even apply.
What to do if your offer is paused or your CAS is withdrawn
Ask for your money back in writing first. The refund terms sit in your offer contract, so read the deposit clause before you call. Keep every email.
Then check where you stand. A withdrawn CAS before a visa decision does not count as a visa refusal against you, because no decision was made. A refusal does, and you must declare it on later UK applications. If your visa is still pending, ask the university if it will keep the CAS live.
Pick your next option from the register, not from an agent's list. An agent who promises a "guaranteed" place may not know the university has paused Pakistan, so learn the checks for study abroad agents in Pakistan before you sign anything. The rest of the UK Student visa process from Pakistan, from CAS to the TB test, stays the same.
Money rules change too. From 30 November 2026 the UK student visa funds rise to £1,203 a month outside London. And confirm that the UK accepts your English test before you book a seat.
Common questions
Where is the UK register of licensed student sponsors?
On gov.uk, under the title "Register of licensed sponsors: students". It is a free spreadsheet, updated almost every working day.
Is a university with an action plan unsafe?
No. It is still licensed and can sponsor you. It does mean the Home Office has flagged its compliance, so it may issue fewer CAS and check applicants more closely.
Has the UK banned Pakistani students?
No. The Home Office has no ban on Pakistani students. Some universities have chosen to pause or limit applications from Pakistan on their own.
Does a withdrawn CAS count as a visa refusal?
No. If the university withdraws the CAS before a decision, no visa decision exists. A refusal only happens when the Home Office decides your application.
What is the BCA refusal limit in 2026?
Under 5 per cent for assessments applied for on or after 1 June 2026. Before that date it was under 10 per cent.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 10 October 2026, about 7:30 pm PKT. Register figures are our own count of the Register of licensed sponsors: students, version dated 9 October 2026. The BCA thresholds, the RAG rating and the action plan rules are from the Home Office Student sponsor compliance guidance, paragraphs 2.14 to 2.46. The probationary sponsor rule is from the explanatory memorandum to HC 584, paragraph 5.22. Reports of universities pausing Pakistani applications have not been confirmed by an official list.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
