UK Publishes New List of Institutions Approved to Sponsor Kenyan Students

The UK has updated its official register of institutions authorised to sponsor international students, with the latest list published on 12 August 2026.

The register identifies universities, schools and colleges that can issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) required for visa applications under the Student and Child Student routes. It covers institutions across the UK, including universities, independent boarding schools, private language colleges and publicly funded further education providers. 

Each institution is listed with the visa categories for which it is licensed. Some can sponsor only child students, while others can sponsor adult students. Among the higher education institutions on the register are Imperial College London, the London School of Economics, King’s College London, Cardiff University, Queen’s University Belfast and Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. 

They hold “Student Sponsor – Track Record” status, indicating a consistent record of compliance with Home Office requirements. Independent schools including Eton, Harrow, Marlborough and Rugby are also listed. Private providers such as Kaplan International, EF International Language Centres and BIMM University appear with multiple campuses across the country.

The register also identifies institutions subject to additional compliance measures. Aysgarth School, Basil Paterson College, Blenheim Schools Group and Redmaids’ High School are designated as Probationary Sponsors and are subject to closer monitoring. Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, De Montfort University in Leicester and London South Bank University are listed as “Subject To Action Plan”, indicating that they are subject to active compliance measures by the Home Office.

The classifications are relevant to prospective international students because an institution must hold a valid sponsor licence to issue the CAS needed for a UK Student or Child Student visa. The update comes as the UK continues to revise its immigration rules across several categories. UK Visas and Immigration has also updated its register of licensed employers, which lists organisations authorised to sponsor overseas workers and temporary staff.

More than 142,000 employers are now authorised to sponsor workers and temporary staff. The register is an important resource for international job seekers, including Kenyans, who are assessing potential employers and navigating the UK’s immigration requirements.

The two registers provide official records of the institutions and employers authorised to sponsor international applicants. Students and workers can use them to confirm whether a university, school, college or employer is licensed before making financial or academic commitments.