Universities draw back on MRes recruitment amid Home Office probe

Some UK universities have shut international applications to their master’s by research (MRes) courses following increased scrutiny by the Home Office and pressure from the sector, as high demand for these programmes continues.

The number of overseas students on MRes courses grew 135 per cent in 2024-25 compared with the previous year, following a ban on postgraduate students bringing dependants with them, from which these courses are exempt.

The growth was mainly concentrated in a small number of institutions, despite warnings from policymakers and sector bodies not to take advantage of the policy loophole.

But many of these institutions now appear to changed their approach to international student recruitment to MRes courses, following the introduction of new visa compliance measures that could lead to universities losing their license to sponsor international students if they fail to meet the new metrics. 

Robert Gordon University (RGU) announced in June that it was closing applications to its October 2026 MRes courses. A spokesperson for RGU said: “The high volume of applications from international students for the autumn intake for MRes meant we had to close this process, however applications for the February 2027 cohort are now open.”

Similarly, the University of Derby has halted applications for MRes courses starting in September. A spokesperson from the university said the decision “reflects a strategic approach to international recruitment, ensuring we continue to offer a sustainable range of high-quality postgraduate opportunities while responding to changing patterns of demand and government policy”. 

Although international applications for taught postgraduate courses starting in September generally remain open, other institutions also closed applications to MRes courses for the autumn intake over the summer period, including the universities of Gloucestershire, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire and Wolverhampton. 

Hertfordshire said it had reached its “planned recruitment capacity for this intake”, while Greater Manchester said it was “recruiting a limited number of MRes students for 2026-27” but that the application window had closed. 

A spokesperson from Gloucestershire said “the deadline to apply for this year’s programmes” had passed and applications were being processed by the admissions team.

Most of the universities contacted by Times Higher Education confirmed that international students were still eligible to apply to future MRes intakes.

Although ministers were understood to be considering extending the dependants ban to these courses, the Home Office now appears to be taking a more nuanced approach following concerns from parts of the sector, including the Russell Group, about the impact of a blanket ban.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has been in contact with some institutions that significantly increased MRes admissions, according to Jonathan Hill, senior manager at immigration firm Fragomen. 

“Where UKVI picked up on that heightened number, they were approaching some institutions to question and query [that],” he said. 

Institutions that received those communications might now “have a less of a risk appetite” when it comes to MRes courses, he continued. “I think perhaps institutions are looking at [limiting applications from certain] regions, as well as closure of the course early or applications early.” 

“Wherever the UKVI pick up on a trend that they’re seeing – be it in applications rising for certain courses or from certain regions – they will then scrutinise those applications closer, particularly at interview as well,” said Hill. 

“I think MRes naturally falls into that bracket where there has been quite a significant increase over the past year or two, and so yes, UKVI will be heightening their reviews of applications for those particular courses.”

Universities UK and leading sector figures, including international education champion Steve Smith and University of Birmingham vice-chancellor Adam Tickell, have also warned institutions against growing these courses, arguing that doing so jeopardises the reputation of the entire sector. 

The student visa refusal rate also reached its highest level in a decade this year. With universities now having to maintain a visa refusal rate of less than 5 per cent to avoid penalties under the red/amber/green rating system, institutions are carefully monitoring visa trends. 

“Universities are now assessing, based on their own internal risk frameworks, which courses may attract more visa refusals or UKVI scrutiny, if the university in question was falling into the amber or red rating,” said one source, who works in a senior compliance position at a UK university. 

Interest in MRes courses surged among international students after the government announced that they would be exempt from the ban on dependants introduced in January 2024. Although institutions might now be more wary about recruiting masses of MRes students, demand appears to remain strong. 

Data from FindAMasters.com, a study choice platform published by Keystone Education Group, shows that MRes courses accounted for 64 per cent of all searches for study in the UK among international students in the second quarter of 2025, when interest peaked. 

Interest then waned slightly before growing to 52 per cent in the second quarter of 2026. 

Mark Bennett, vice-president of research and insight at Keystone, said he believed the initial interest was driven by external actors, including education agents promoting these courses online, rather than any marketing activities by universities themselves. 

He said these online promotions appeared to have died down recently but speculated that the latest surge might have been driven by “a sense of urgency” among international students, given ongoing rumours of a ban on allowing MRes students to bring dependants.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We engage regularly with UK universities, including on MRes courses, and will always welcome genuine international students who want to benefit from the UK’s world‑class higher education system.

“All applications are considered on their individual merits in line with the requirements of the immigration rules.” 

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com