Buckinghamshire New University's Student Sponsor Licence Suspended

The Home Office has suspended Buckinghamshire New University's student sponsor licence with immediate effect. The university has been removed from the UK government’s register of licensed sponsors for students.

Impact on current and prospective students

Students currently sponsored by the university can continue studying during the suspension, provided their immigration permission remains valid. Domestic students and those whose right to stay does not depend on sponsorship are unaffected.

The suspension may affect prospective international students. Under Home Office guidance, a suspended sponsor may be unable to issue new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies reference numbers. Visa applications may be placed on hold or refused depending on the circumstances.

University response and next steps

Buckinghamshire New University has 20 working days to respond to the decision. The licence will be revoked if the university cannot show why it should be reinstated. The university's response will determine the outcome.

The university is engaging fully and constructively with the Home Office throughout the review process. Its priority is to reassure current international students that they can continue and complete their studies as normal. The university has sites in Aylesbury, Uxbridge, and at Missenden Abbey in Great Missenden, with a campus on Queen Alexandra Road in High Wycombe.

A spokesperson said that since the appointment of a new vice chancellor and executive team in 2025, the university has strengthened its governance, compliance and oversight arrangements. Many improvements were implemented before the UK Visas and Immigration audit this year.

Context and background

The suspension relates to historic international student recruitment activity. The Home Office cited concerns about the university’s compliance with its sponsor duties. The university’s Worker and Temporary Worker sponsor licences are not affected and it remains on the relevant registers for those categories.

This is not the first such action. In 2015, the university was banned from recruiting foreign students after having its Tier 4 licence suspended for failing an annual government assessment. The Home Office's published guidance does not explain the specific reasons for the current suspension. The Home Office directed enquiries to its published guidance and said it could not comment further while the representations process was ongoing.

Guidance and compliance updates

UK Visas and Immigration updated its sponsorship duties guidance on 9 October 2026. The updates reflect changes to immigration rules. The guidance confirms sponsors can accept Certificates of Application as proof of an unsponsored EU or EEA national's right to study in the UK. It also clarifies study abroad programme and work placement durations and reflects changes to the ATAS requirement, which now applies to work routes as well as study routes.

The updated guidance documents are for use on or after 1 December. All four relevant documents have been replaced with new versions to reflect the new Student Visa route and broader immigration rules changes.

The university has 20 working days to respond to the Home Office suspension decision, after which the licence may be reinstated or revoked based on its submission.