UK Government Rejects Special Treatment for Chevening Students
The UK government has refused to grant an exemption to Chevening Scholarship recipients after introducing an emergency halt on study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan.
Despite requests from some government officials, the UK Home Office decided that no exceptions would be allowed under the new rules.
Reason Behind the Visa Restrictions
The UK introduced the “emergency brake” after authorities reported a 470% increase in asylum claims from students of these countries between 2021 and 2025.
Officials claim that some individuals were misusing the student visa route as a pathway to claim asylum after arriving in the UK.
Internal Government Disagreement
The decision has created tension within the government.
The UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reportedly asked for Chevening scholars to be exempted from the restrictions. However, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood rejected the request, saying the policy must apply equally to everyone.
Criticism from Former Scholars and Experts
Former Chevening scholar Naimat Zafary described the decision as “heartbreaking,” especially for students from Afghanistan where women have been denied higher education for years.
Critics argue that the policy undermines the UK’s global education reputation and damages a scholarship program designed to support talented students from around the world.
Data on Affected Students
According to government statistics in 2024:
- 16 Chevening scholarshipswere awarded to students from Sudan
- 13 from Afghanistan
- 10 from Myanmar
- 8 from Cameroon
Despite the relatively small number of students, the visa ban applies to all applicants from these countries.
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