Leading universities urge Shabana Mahmood to exempt exceptional students from visa ban

May 23, 2026 · 9:46 AM UTC ·5 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 35 views

#education #visa #international students

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

Leading universities in the UK are calling for an exemption from a visa ban for exceptional students from conflict-affected countries. The Russell Group and ResearchPlus have written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, arguing that Chevening scholars should be allowed to study in the UK despite the ban. They emphasize that these candidates have already undergone rigorous assessments and contribute positively to international partnerships.

Key facts

▪34 universities have urged Shabana Mahmood to exempt Chevening scholars from a visa ban.
▪The Home Office ended study visas for students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan in March.
▪The universities argue that the visa ban is not fair or proportionate, as Chevening candidates are rigorously assessed.

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Original publisher	The Independent
Canonical URL	https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mahmood-student-visa-ban-chevening-scholars-universities-b2981211.html
Publication time	Sat, 23 May 2026 09:46:08 GMT
Retrieval time	2026-05-23T10:02:26.266Z
Last seen	2026-05-23T10:02:26.266Z
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

NewsUKHome NewsLeading universities urge Shabana Mahmood to exempt exceptional students from visa banExclusive: Russell Group universities ask for carve-out from visa ban for Chevening scholars Holly Bancroft Home Affairs Correspondent Saturday 23 May 2026 10:46 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2981211","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mahmood-student-visa-ban-chevening-scholars-universities-b2981211.html","title":"Leading universities urge Mahmood to exempt exceptional students from visa ban "}}Family reunion…

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