BUILA statement on Basic Compliance Assessment Metrics

3 June 2026

With this week marking the introduction of the Government’s new Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) metrics, BUILA would like to thank our members for their continued engagement and support over the past year.

Your contributions have been vital in helping us to highlight the potential implications of the new Red–Amber–Green (RAG) rating system for universities across the UK, and to inform our ongoing engagement with the Government.

We welcome the inclusion of discretion within the final guidance to support decision-making during the transition period. This reflects a key concern we raised on behalf of members, namely that sponsors should be assessed against the rules in place at the time of sponsorship, rather than retrospectively against new requirements. While this is a positive step, wider concerns across the sector remain.

Insights from our recent member survey demonstrated that, despite taking proactive steps to strengthen compliance and manage risk, many institutions experienced higher-than-usual levels of visa refusals during the January intake.

We shared with government that half of respondents indicated that they expected to receive at least one non-green rating under the new framework, raising concerns about the potential impact on institutional growth, student choice, and the UK’s global reputation as a study destination.

Maintaining confidence in the UK’s student visa system is critical. This depends on a framework that is transparent, proportionate and consistently applied. As institutions work to respond to the new requirements, a period of policy stability will be essential to support both universities and prospective students.

Over the coming months, BUILA will continue to reflect members’ operational experience to the Government and work constructively with UKVI and sector partners. We will prioritise improvements to data-sharing, including clearer insight into visa refusal decisions, greater transparency in compliance metrics, and better intelligence on emerging market trends, to ensure institutions can respond effectively and in real time.