UK Government visa brake information for applicants and staff
On Thursday 26 March 2026, the UK Government implemented a 'visa brake’ affecting nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan. Under this policy, the UK Government will not issue Student or Skilled worker visas to nationals of these countries who apply from outside the UK. The visa brake does not apply to visa applications made within the UK by individuals who already hold existing valid immigration permission.
While the visa brake remains in place, the University is unable to issue any offers to study or work in the UK to nationals from the affected countries. We continue to monitor developments closely and are actively engaging in sector discussions with the UK Government. We look forward to welcoming applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan once the visa brake is lifted.
Support for current and prospective students
We understand that the visa brake will have significant implications for the students and staff from the affected countries. The University has contacted all impacted current and prospective students to provide individual advice and support.
If you are a current student or a prospective applicant and would like to discuss your circumstances, please email advint@st-andrews.ac.uk to contact our International Advice Team. For up-to-date guidance on the visa brake, please refer to the .
Online postgraduate study options
We offer a range of online postgraduate programmes that can be completed remotely and remain open to applicants of all nationalities.
Find out more about our postgraduate online courses.
Support for staff
If you are a current member of staff and would like to discuss your circumstances, please contact your HR Business Partner.