Press Release: Friday 17th April 2026Seventy percent of UK universities reported a fall in the number of international students starting postgraduate courses in January 2026, according to a new survey by the British Universities International Liaison Association (BUILA). On average, enrolments were down 31% compared with January 2025.The findings suggest that the decline is being driven in part by universities taking proactive recruitment decisions ahead of tighter visa compliance measures, but there are also concerns that the Home Office is refusing visas for reasons outside the control of higher education institutions.The sector body warns that this risks driving away large…

The new Shorelight study tracks F-1 visa refusals over the last decade, during which visa denials have not only increased across the board, but have become structurally concentrated in specific regions, especially in Africa and South Asia.   “When a student’s likelihood of entry depends more on their country of origin than their academic credentials or funding, the integrity of the US visa system is compromised,” states the report.   While across the board, refusal rates have climbed from 23% in 2015 to 35% in 2025, they have also become structurally concentrated in specific regions, the data shows.  “This matters in the context of sustained and growing global demand,” said Shorelight…

A new report from Shorelight called Beyond the Interview: A Decade of Student Visa Denials
and What Comes Next, reveals (1) that record-high numbers of prospective international student are having their F-1 visa applications refused and (2) that refusals are “structurally concentrated in specific regions.” The report’s data shows that students from some countries – all in the Global South – are denied visas far more often than applicants from Europe, Canada, or South America.The report continues Shorelight’s commitment, which began in 2023 in partnership with the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, to acquiring and analysing F-1 visa denial…

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Image Source: Canva Drivers from a select group of countries will soon face mandatory testing before being issued a New South Wales driver’s licence, as the state moves to align its rules with the rest of the nation. From February 1, 2026, motorists holding licences from 16 countries will be required to pass both knowledge and practical driving tests to obtain a NSW licence, regardless of their age. Under the current arrangements, only drivers under 25 from those countries must sit the exams. The reform, announced by the NSW Government, brings New South Wales into line with all other Australian…

Over the past year, President Trump’s administration has deported about 230,000 people who were arrested inside the country and another 270,000 at the border, a New York Times analysis of federal data shows. The number of deportations from interior arrests since Mr. Trump took office is already higher than the total during the entire four years of the Biden administration. It offers the clearest measure of the impact of Mr. Trump’s immigration crackdown and expansive efforts to fulfill his campaign promise to deport millions of people. At the same time, the number of people trying to cross the Southwest border has fallen…

Several ranking systems point to a gradual erosion of the dominance of American universities, like Harvard, on the global stage.gettyConcern is mounting that leading U.S. universities are losing their standing as the best higher education institutions in the world. The global supremacy of America’s colleges and universities was once taken for granted. Our colleges and universities were routinely viewed as “the envy of the world.” But no more. Universities in Asia, Europe and Australia are seeing their reputations improve and their rankings climb, corresponding to a gradual erosion of the prominence of U.S. institutions.Just this week, a New York Times…

Image: ICE reportedly detained two Indian students at an Indian restaurant in St. Louis Park (Source: X – @M9USA_) The alleged detention of two Indian students during an immigration check in Minnesota has intensified scrutiny of an escalating federal crackdown that has already sparked weeks of protests across the state. Unverified reports circulating on social media claim the students were taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during a surprise inspection at a restaurant in St Louis Park on January 16 (US time). Visuals shared online appear to show officers handcuffing and escorting the men from the…

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will not be updating its current list of educational programs that are eligible for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) in 2026. IRCC confirmed the freeze in a website update posted on January 15, 2026. That means that no fields of study will be added or removed for the rest of the year. The government had previously indicated in 2025 that they would overhaul the eligible programs in “early 2026.” Schedule a Free PGWP Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm In 2024, IRCC introduced a field-of-study requirement for some post-secondary graduates applying for a…