International students left in limbo by UCL after university exceeds visa allocations

Hundreds of students accepted on courses facing costs and even deportation after being told to defer studies until 2026

Hundreds of international students accepted on courses by University College London have been left in limbo and facing thousands of pounds in costs, after the university admitted it had run out of places just days before many were due to start.

About 200 students from China alone have been affected after UCL exceeded its visa allocations for the coming academic year, with the university initially telling the students that they would have to defer their studies until 2026.