One-Year UK MRes Programs Under Scrutiny Over Supervision and Visa Concerns

In the UK, one-year Master of Research (MRes) programs are now under criticism for being “effectively unsupervised” and used by international students as a route to bring dependents into the country.

These courses have become popular because they fall under postgraduate research, a category that still allows students to bring dependants. This became more important after the UK government’s 2024 visa rule changes, which banned most international students from bringing family members unless they are on research courses like PhDs or MRes.

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A UK university vice-chancellor told The PIE News that MRes programs are being used in ways that were not intended. “Using MRes programs to bypass dependant visa restrictions could lead to stricter immigration rules,” the source warned.

Surge in Demand and Policy Reaction
Searches for MRes programs by international students more than doubled—from 23% in early 2024 to 49% in 2025. Some universities are now reacting to this surge.

According to The PIE News, one unnamed university asked its agent partners to limit MRes applications to just 25% of their total Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) allocation. The university stated that “MRes courses are now closed to new applications” due to overwhelming demand.

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Agents were told to “compile a list of applicants based on the CAS allocation” and reminded not to market MRes courses as a “route for bringing dependants to the UK.”

Agent Frustration
This sudden policy shift has caused frustration among education agents. One agent told The PIE, “We now have hundreds of offers for September that we have to withdraw. It’s not fair and is very poor planning from the university.”

The affected university offers several MRes programs in fields such as business, management, and public health , popular with applicants from India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

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Immigration Compliance and Policy Pressure
The move also comes amid rising compliance pressure from the UK Home Office. Universities must now meet strict visa success, enrolment, and course completion rates to keep their sponsor license.

Additionally, the university announced that from September 2025, Medium of Instruction (MOI) letters will no longer be accepted as proof of English proficiency for MRes admissions.

It’s unclear whether these changes are linked to new compliance rules or simply a response to the UKVI audit triggered by the request for more CAS slots.

The case highlights a growing tension between student recruitment goals, immigration policy, and academic integrity.