The Taliban announced a ban on Afghan women from studying at universities, according to a letter published by the minister of higher education.
The ministry said the ban is in effect until further notice. This is expected to take effect soon.
This policy further restricts women's access to formal education, given that they are already expelled from most secondary schools.
A student at Kabul University told the BBC he had been in tears since hearing the news.
Three months ago thousands of young women and adults took university entrance exams across Afghanistan.
But the subjects they can study are broadly restricted, with veterinary science, engineering, economics, and agriculture banned altogether and journalism severely restricted.
Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan last year, universities have implemented segregation of classrooms and entrances based on gender.
Female students can only be taught by female lecturers or old men.
In response to the latest ban, a female college student told the BBC she thought the Taliban were afraid of women and their power.
"They destroyed the only bridge that could connect me with my future," he said.
"How can I react? I believed that I could learn and change my future or bring light into my life, but they destroyed it."
Afghanistan's education sector has been particularly affected after the Taliban came to power and there has been an exodus of trained academics following the withdrawal of US-led foreign troops last year.
Another woman spoke of "too much difficulty" to simply try to continue her education after the Taliban came to power.
He told the BBC: "We struggle with our brothers, with our father, with society, and even with the government.
"We went through a difficult situation just in order to continue our education.
"At that time, at least I was happy to graduate from university and achieve my dream. But, now how can I convince myself?"
Afghanistan's economy has largely depended on foreign aid in recent decades, but aid agencies have halted some - and in some cases entirely - support to the education sector after the Taliban refused to allow girls to attend secondary schools.
Many teaching staff have not been paid for months.
This latest move is likely to cause further concern in the international community.
The U.S. and other Western countries have made improving women's education in Afghanistan a condition for formally recognizing the Taliban government.
US UN Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood denounced the Taliban's latest actions.
"The Taliban cannot expect to become legitimate members of the international community until they respect the rights of all Afghans," he said.
"Especially the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls."
Last November, authorities banned women from visiting parks in the capital Kabul, claiming Islamic law was not observed there.