What is the UKVI RAG System?
- A compliance classification applied to every UK university holding a student sponsor licence, live since June 1, 2026.
- Each institution is rated Green (fully operational), Amber (CAS frozen), or Red (CAS slashed) based on three real-time metrics.
- A single worst-performing metric determines the entire tier — there is no averaging across metrics.
- UKVI does not publish a public RAG directory. Tier data is internal to licensed sponsors and authorised agency networks.
The RAG Compliance Thresholds (June 2026)
A university's tier is set by its single worst metric — not an overall average across all three indicators.
Secure & Active
✅ Full CAS Allocation
- 📊 Visa refusal rate < 4%
- 🎓 Enrollment rate > 96%
- 📚 Course completion > 92%
Imminent Risk
⚠️ CAS Issuance Frozen
- 📊 Refusal rate 4% – 4.99%
- 🎓 Enrollment 95% – 95.99%
- 📚 Completion 90% – 91.99%
Non-Compliant
🚨 Allocations Slashed
- 📊 Refusal rate ≥ 5%
- 🎓 Enrollment < 95%
- 📚 Completion < 90%
| Tier | Visa Refusal | Enrollment Rate | Completion Rate | CAS Status | Impact on Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Green | Below 4% | Above 96% | Above 92% | Full Allocation | Normal processing, no restrictions |
| 🟡 Amber | 4% – 4.99% | 95% – 95.99% | 90% – 91.99% | ❌ Frozen | No CAS issued until metrics recover |
| 🔴 Red | 5% or above | Below 95% | Below 90% | ⬇ Cut −10%+ | Backlogs, heightened visa scrutiny |
If a university scores Green on refusal rate and completion, but falls to Amber on enrollment — the entire institution is classified as Amber. There is no balancing or averaging. One bad metric triggers the full consequence for every applicant.
Is your university Green, Amber, or Red?
Our internal tracking registry maps RAG metrics across 150+ UK institutions. UKVI doesn't publish this publicly — but we do.
Is There a Public RAG University List?
This is the most-searched question — and the answer is critical.
UKVI explicitly does not publish a public RAG-tier directory. There is no official government website, spreadsheet, or portal where students can look up a university's current compliance tier. The data is entirely internal to licensed sponsors — meaning universities themselves, UKVI compliance officers, and authorised agency networks.
This is by design. UKVI operates the system as an internal compliance lever — not as a consumer information tool. The consequence? A Nepali student can apply to a university in good faith, pay their CAS fee, prepare their documents — and then discover their chosen institution cannot legally issue them a CAS because its metrics tipped into Amber that month.
- ✗ UKVI website — no public RAG list
- ✗ University websites — not required to disclose their tier
- ✗ General Google search — no reliable third-party tracker
- ✓ Licensed agency networks with direct sponsor relationships — the only reliable source
Our internal compliance tracking system maps real-time RAG metrics across 150+ UK institutions using data aggregated directly from sponsor communications and UKVI compliance notices. Because these band metrics fluctuate monthly and UKVI does not publish a public tracker, students can ping our live compliance desk directly at +977 985-144-4401 to run a real-time risk check on any UK institution before submitting an application.
Why This Hits Nepali Students Harder
Nepal consistently ranks among the top 5 nationalities for UK student visa volume. That visibility brings both opportunity — and disproportionate scrutiny.
High volume of Nepali applicants at individual universities directly inflates institution-level refusal and non-enrollment rates — pushing borderline institutions into Amber.
Metrics are reviewed periodically. An institution may be Green when you apply but tip to Amber before your CAS is issued — with no advance warning to the student.
When a university enters Red Tier, every individual application from that institution faces heightened scrutiny — not just new applicants. Students with pending visas at a Red-tier university may experience longer processing times, additional document requests, or in severe cases, refusal on the basis of the institution's compliance record. This risk is entirely avoidable through pre-application RAG vetting.
Name Discrepancy Alert: If your name appears differently across your Passport, Citizenship Certificate, or Bank Statements — this is a critical UKVI compliance failure point that becomes doubly dangerous at Amber or Red-tier universities where scrutiny is already elevated. Seek an immediate document audit before submitting any application. Message us on WhatsApp for a same-day review.
Your RAG Risk Protection Protocol
A 5-step pre-application process that dramatically reduces your exposure to CAS freezes.
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1
Run a RAG Tier Check Before Applying
Before paying any application fee or CAS deposit, verify the institution's current tier through an authorised agency network. A university listed Green today could slip to Amber within weeks.
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2
Shortlist Multiple Green-Tier Institutions
Avoid single-institution dependency. Always hold 2–3 active applications at verified Green-tier universities simultaneously. Our Putalisadak compliance desk cross-references all shortlisted universities before processing.
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3
Conduct a Full Document Audit
At Amber or Red-tier institutions, scrutiny of individual documents intensifies. Name consistency across all documents — Passport, Citizenship, SLC, bank statements — must be exact. Even minor spelling variations trigger UKVI queries.
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4
Verify Your 28-Day Financial Window
Required funds — outstanding first-year tuition + £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London) — must be held consecutively for 28 days. At Red-tier institutions, ECF (Electronic Cash Fund) verification timelines extend, so plan your 28-day window accordingly.
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5
Monitor Your CAS Progress Monthly
A CAS is not a guarantee — it can be delayed or withdrawn if an institution's tier changes after conditional acceptance but before issuance. Active monitoring through an authorised agent is the only reliable safeguard.
Need your shortlist RAG-audited?
Send us your university list on WhatsApp and our compliance desk will return a Green/Amber/Red verdict on each institution — free, same day.
RAG Tier vs. University Tier — Key Differences
The RAG system is a compliance framework — entirely separate from academic prestige rankings. A Russell Group university can be Amber; a Post-92 can be Green.
| University Type | Typical Tuition | Typical IELTS | RAG Risk Profile | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Group Manchester, Leeds, UCL… |
£22,000–£38,000/yr | 6.5–7.0+ | Generally Green | Higher academic bar means lower non-completion; lower refusal rates historically |
| Post-92 Greenwich, De Montfort, Herts… |
£11,000–£17,000/yr | 6.0 (no band <5.5) | Monitor Monthly | Higher Nepali applicant volumes; more RAG exposure. Verify before each intake. |
For students considering the University of East London (UEL) — always quote the specific 2026 scholarship framework: £2,000/year for Undergraduate and £3,000/year for Postgraduate applicants. UEL's current RAG status should be verified at time of application through our compliance desk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Top questions from Nepali students about the June 2026 RAG update.
Technically yes — but it is a high-risk strategy. An Amber-tier university cannot legally issue a CAS until its metrics recover to Green thresholds. If you have applied, paid deposits, and received a conditional offer from an Amber institution, your CAS — and therefore your visa application — is on hold until the institution rectifies its metrics. There is no guaranteed timeline for recovery. The safe approach is to simultaneously hold applications at verified Green-tier alternatives. Our compliance desk at +977 985-144-4401 can help you identify viable Green-tier alternatives quickly.
UKVI reviews metrics on a rolling basis, with formal tier updates applied periodically — typically quarterly, though emergency re-classifications can occur. This means a university rated Green in January could move to Amber by March without any public announcement. Because metrics are internal to the sponsor network, only licensed agencies with direct sponsor relationships receive timely notification of tier changes. Our internal tracking system is updated as new compliance data becomes available through our institutional network.
Yes, indirectly but significantly. At Red-tier institutions, individual applications receive heightened scrutiny — meaning more document requests, longer processing times, and a statistically higher refusal probability even for well-prepared applicants. UKVI visa officers are made aware of institutional compliance context. A strong personal profile and clean documentation reduces this risk, but does not eliminate it. This is why our advisors guide students exclusively toward Green-tier universities and never guarantee approval outcomes — success derives from proper preparation, document audit consistency, and strong interview profiles.
If your CAS has already been issued, you are protected for the current intake — the CAS number is locked in and your visa application can proceed normally. However, if your CAS has been promised but not yet formally issued, a tier change before issuance can freeze the process. Always request your CAS as early as possible after receiving your unconditional offer, and track your institution's compliance status monthly through an authorised agency.
Scholarship holders — including Chevening and Great Scholarship recipients — are not exempt from the RAG framework. The CAS must still be issued by the university, which requires the institution to be at Green tier. If a scholarship awardee's host university is at Amber, the CAS freeze applies equally, potentially delaying their start date. Chevening specifically places students at partner universities — all of which are monitored for compliance. We recommend all scholarship applicants confirm their host university's RAG status alongside their award acceptance.
The current UKVI 2026 financial requirements are: Visa fee: £558 | Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £776/year. For living cost show money (held for 28 consecutive days): London — £1,529/month × 9 months = £13,761 | Outside London — £1,171/month × 9 months = £10,539. Total required funds = outstanding first-year tuition + living cost show money. See our full UK Student Visa 2026 Guide for a complete checklist.
Get Your Free RAG Risk Audit
Send your university shortlist to our WhatsApp compliance desk. We'll return a verified Green/Amber/Red verdict on each institution — powered by our internal tracking registry across 150+ UK universities.
Offices in Putalisadak, Kathmandu & Lakeside, Pokhara · House of Admissions