Answer in one sentence: The Q2 2026 Nepal figures used in this analysis show a 92.5% grant rate (7.5% refusal rate), while separate UKVI changes in 2026–27 tighten sponsor compliance and increase Student route maintenance requirements.
Last reviewed 7 September 2026. Government rules and immigration statistics can change; the source links below are the authority for legal requirements.
Key Takeaways for Nepali Students
- Latest Nepal rate in this dataset: 92.5% grant rate in Q2 2026, calculated from 2,133 grants and 173 refusals.
- Do not confuse country statistics with sponsor compliance: UKVI’s 5% RAG refusal threshold applies to individual Student sponsors, not to Nepal as a country.
- Maintenance rises on 30 November 2026: £1,570/month in London and £1,203/month outside London for up to 9 months under the new rules.
- Graduate route change: applications made from 1 January 2027 normally receive 18 months for non-doctoral graduates.
What Is the UK Visa Rate from Nepal?
Using the Q2 2026 Nepal figures published in the source compilation used for this page, 2,133 Sponsored Study visas were granted and 173 were refused. Dividing grants by grants plus refusals gives a 92.5% grant rate and a 7.5% refusal rate.
- 92.5%
- Q2 2026 grant rate
- 7.5%
- Q2 2026 refusal rate
- 2,133
- Q2 2026 grants
- 173
- Q2 2026 refusals
The Home Office publishes quarterly immigration statistics as part of its wider statistical release, and the year-ending June 2026 release reports 383,455 sponsored study visa grants across all nationalities, 11% lower than the previous year. That annual picture is different from a single-quarter Nepal calculation.
Student Visa UK Nepal News: Q1 & Q2 2026
The table below keeps the Nepal question front and centre while showing a small set of comparator markets. It is useful for understanding scale and short-term movement, but it is not a substitute for the full Home Office dataset.
| Country | Q1 2026 grants | Q2 2026 grants | Q2 YoY change | Q2 grant rate | Q2 refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 14,499 | 7,378 | −51% | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| China (Mainland) | 1,652 | 5,260 | −31% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| Nepal | 3,638 | 2,133 | −53% | 92.5% | 7.5% |
| Nigeria | 3,586 | 2,148 | −51% | 75.1% | 24.9% |
| United States | 646 | 3,194 | −5% | 99.8% | 0.2% |
| Pakistan | 2,163 | 581 | −90% | 65.9% | 34.1% |
| Bangladesh | 952 | 514 | −61% | 73.5% | 26.5% |
| Sri Lanka | 574 | 184 | −56% | 81.8% | 18.2% |
| Ghana | 489 | 156 | −66% | 58.0% | 42.0% |
| Italy | 67 | 375 | +7% | 99.2% | 0.8% |
Official Home Office context: in the year ending June 2026, the UK recorded 383,455 sponsored study visa grants, with 365,868 main applicants. The Home Office says this was 11% lower than the previous year.
Primary data sources
- Home Office: Why do people come to the UK? Study — official year-ending June 2026 statistics.
- Home Office: Immigration system statistics data tables — downloadable underlying datasets.
Student Visa Latest Updates UKVI: The Sponsor RAG System
UKVI introduced a new Basic Compliance Assessment framework using a Red-Amber-Green system for Student sponsors. The key refusal-rate threshold is 5%: a sponsor with a refusal rate of 5% or more is in the red category for that metric, subject to the guidance’s assessment and discretion provisions.
| Metric | Red | Amber | Green | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa refusal rate | ≥5% | ≥4% and <5% | <4% | Sponsor-specific Student/Child Student visa refusals over the assessment period. |
| Enrolment rate | <95% | ≥95% and <96% | ≥96% | Sponsor-specific enrolment performance. |
| Course completion rate | <90% | ≥90% and <92% | ≥92% | Sponsor-specific course completion performance. |
Want to Know Whether Your University Is Affected?
Share your target universities with House of Admissions and we can help you distinguish verified sponsor information from rumours circulating in the market. We will not label a university “Red” without evidence.
Start Free Assessment WhatsApp Pre-CheckNovember 2026 Student Visa Maintenance Requirement
One of the clearest upcoming UKVI changes for applicants is the annual uplift to the Student route financial requirement. The Home Office’s 3 September 2026 Statement of Changes confirms that the new figures take effect on 30 November 2026.
| Study location | Current published amount | From 30 Nov 2026 | Maximum period |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529/month | £1,570/month | Up to 9 months |
| Outside London | £1,171/month | £1,203/month | Up to 9 months |
Graduate Visa Update: 18 Months from 1 January 2027
The Graduate route is also changing. GOV.UK states that applications made on or before 31 December 2026 can receive 2 years for eligible non-doctoral graduates, while applications made on or after 1 January 2027 normally receive 18 months. PhD and other doctoral graduates continue to receive 3 years.
This change does not alter the Student visa grant rate. It changes the post-study work period available under the Graduate route, so it belongs in a “latest UKVI updates” section rather than being mixed into the Nepal visa statistics.
What Nepali Students Should Do Now
- Use the visa rate as context, not as a prediction. A 92.5% quarterly grant rate does not mean a new application has a 92.5% chance of approval.
- Check the sponsor, not just the country. UKVI’s RAG framework is sponsor-specific. Do not rely on social-media claims that a university is “Red” without evidence.
- Prepare funds against the correct rule date. Applications subject to the new rules from 30 November 2026 will need the higher maintenance figures.
- Audit financial evidence early. Where financial evidence is required, the 28-day holding requirement and evidence-date rules need to be satisfied exactly.
- Keep the application internally consistent. Your course choice, study history, funding, CAS and supporting documents should tell one coherent story.
- Use official sources for legal decisions. Treat agency commentary and market rumours as commentary, not as the rule itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the Q2 2026 Nepal figures used on this page, 2,133 Sponsored Study visas were granted and 173 applications were refused, giving a grant rate of about 92.5% among decided grants and refusals. This is a statistical grant rate for the period, not a guarantee that an individual applicant will be approved.
The latest Nepal-specific quarterly figures used here show a 92.5% grant rate in Q2 2026 and a 7.5% refusal rate. The correct interpretation is that 2,133 grants and 173 refusals were recorded in the Q2 dataset used for this analysis; pending, withdrawn or otherwise unresolved applications are not treated as approvals.
Three major updates matter. From 1 June 2026, Student sponsors are assessed under the new Basic Compliance Assessment Red-Amber-Green system. From 30 November 2026, the Student route maintenance requirement increases to £1,570 per month in London and £1,203 outside London. From 1 January 2027, the Graduate route for most eligible graduates becomes 18 months instead of 2 years.
No. The 5% RAG threshold applies to an individual Student sponsor’s visa refusal-rate metric, calculated from that sponsor’s CAS-linked cases over the relevant assessment period. It is not a country-wide UKVI rating for Nepal.
Not on its own. Visa-grant volume and university rejection rates are different measures. A fall in visa grants can reflect changes in application volume, timing and other factors; it should not be described as evidence that UK universities have stopped recruiting from Nepal without university-specific evidence.
Focus on the rules that actually decide an application: a credible and coherent study plan, correct CAS information, valid financial evidence, and consistency across the application. GOV.UK currently requires the relevant funds to have been held for 28 consecutive days where financial evidence is required.
For applications governed by the new rules, the maintenance requirement becomes £1,570 per month in London and £1,203 per month outside London, for up to 9 months. The change takes effect on 30 November 2026.
For applications made on or after 1 January 2027, the Graduate visa will normally last 18 months. PhD and other doctoral graduates continue to receive 3 years under the published rules.
Get a Free UK Student Visa Readiness Review
House of Admissions provides free profile and document reviews for students applying from Nepal. We can help you review funding evidence, course choice, CAS details and the practical implications of current UKVI rules before you submit.
Start Free Assessment Chat on WhatsAppRelated UK Student Visa Resources
Primary UK government sources
Page last updated . The page should be reviewed again when new Home Office statistics or Immigration Rules changes are published.