Published : 23 Sep 2026, 02:26 AM
Updated : 23 Sep 2026, 02:26 AM
The UK government has published an updated list of 80 global universities whose graduates are eligible to apply for the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa, but none are from South Asia, despite universities from the region featuring prominently in global rankings.
The list covers qualifications awarded between Nov 1, 2025 and Oct 31, 2026. It was last updated on Nov 4, 2025 and is available on the UK government’s official website, reports Legit.
The QS World University Rankings: Southern Asia 2026 places the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi at the top of the regional table, while the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Islamabad is the highest-ranked university outside India.
The UK government’s immigration guidance says the Global Universities List consists of non-UK universities that have appeared in the top 100 of at least two of three ranking systems: the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the QS World University Rankings, and the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
The HPI visa allows graduates of top-ranked universities to live and work in the UK without a job offer.
According to Legit, it is designed for graduates of highly ranked universities outside the UK who want to work or look for work in Britain.
Unlike many UK work visas, it does not require a sponsoring employer, making it an option for young professionals seeking to build careers in the UK.
Graduates whose degrees were awarded within the qualifying period by any of the listed institutions are eligible to apply.
