Carlos Lopez By Carlos Lopez

Training & Education · Student Visas

Your College Lost Its Student Sponsor Licence: What Happens Next

Sponsor licence revocations more than doubled in 2025. If it happens to your college, your visa gets curtailed to 60 days — here's exactly what that means and what to do with them.

The 60-Day Curtailment, Explained

When the Home Office revokes an institution's Student sponsor licence, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will typically write to affected students confirming that their permission to stay is being curtailed to 60 calendar days from the date of the letter — or to whatever time remains on their existing visa, if that's shorter. Sponsor licence revocations rose sharply in the year to mid-2025, nearly doubling year-on-year, so this is a real and growing risk, not a rare edge case.

Within that 60-day window, you have three options: find a new Student sponsor willing to issue you a fresh Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and submit a new visa application, switch to a different visa route you may qualify for, or leave the UK. There is no automatic six-month extension — proposals to extend the grace period have been discussed but are not law, so you must plan around the current 60-day rule.

Can You Keep Studying at the Same Institution?

You may be allowed to continue studying at your existing sponsor for a limited period even after revocation, but this is entirely at UKVI's discretion, not a guaranteed right. Where permitted, the maximum period is 6 months or the end of your current academic year, whichever is longer. Don't assume this applies to your situation without direct confirmation from UKVI or your institution's international student support team.

Getting Your Deposit or Tuition Back

Importantly, the Home Office does not refund visa fees or the Immigration Health Surcharge already paid — any new visa application requires fresh payment in full. Tuition deposits and fees paid to the institution itself are a separate matter: you'll need to contact the institution directly to request a refund, and the strength of your claim depends on the specific terms you agreed to and whether the institution's own conduct (losing its licence) caused you to be unable to complete your studies there. This is a consumer dispute distinct from your immigration status, and it's worth pursuing even while you sort out your visa situation.

Immediate Action Steps

  1. Read your curtailment letter carefully and note the exact date your 60-day window ends.
  2. Contact your institution's international student advice or compliance team immediately — they should be your first point of contact for both visa and refund questions.
  3. Research alternative Student sponsors as early as possible — finding one and getting a new CAS issued takes time you don't want to lose.
  4. Request written confirmation of any tuition or deposit refund you're pursuing, and keep all communication dated and saved.
  5. If you can't resolve your visa situation within the window, seek qualified immigration advice immediately — don't wait until close to the deadline.

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