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Refugees: Higher Education

Asked by Sir Julian LewisConservativeHome OfficeTabled Answered 12 March 2026UIN 118679

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the likely impact of the recent changes in immigration rules on the practicability of continuing the rescue from oppressive regimes of academics in danger by awarding fellowships at United Kingdom universities, arranged until now by the Council for At-Risk Academics.

Answered by Alex Norris

The visa brake will apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, for the Student route, and nationals of Afghanistan for the Skilled Worker route. We understand decision may be disappointing to some people. If fellowship schemes use the specified routes, they will be impacted; schemes that use any other visa routes will be unaffected.

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