The UK government announced a new two-year post-study work visa route for all international students in a move that addressed a long-standing demand to boost Indian student numbers who choose British Universities. The new route will be available to all overseas nationals with a valid UK immigration status as a student and have successful completion of a course of study in any subject at undergraduate level or above at an institution which is government-approved is supposed to be in place by next year.
Eligible students will be allowed to work in any career or position of their choice for two years after completing their studies under this new visa.
This policy ended by the former Prime Minister Theresa May around nine years ago has been reinstated by the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying it would allow the students to “unlock their potential” and begin careers in the UK.
UK home secretary Priti Patel, the senior-most Indian-origin member of Johnson’s Cabinet said that "The new Graduate Route will mean talented international students, whether in science and maths or technology and engineering, can study in the UK and then gain valuable work experience as they go on to build successful careers.”
She said, "It demonstrates our global outlook and will ensure that we continue to attract the best and brightest.”
The two-year post work visa was ended during the former UK Home Secretary May’s term in 2012 which was widely viewed as the reason for a major drop in student numbers from countries like India.
A report by the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for international students noted "The withdrawal of the post-study work visa was attributed with a decline in international student recruitment in the UK from key markets, notably India. Between 2010-11 and 2016-17, the number of higher education students from India more than halved.”
Chiefs and representatives widely welcomed the latest announcement by the government who highlighted that higher education choices were prone to Indian Students who made the choices based on the fact that they would be able to gain some work experience at the end of the degree.
Vivienne Stern, Director, Universities UK International who has been lobbying for such a visa for many years stated that "Although 82 percent of our Indian graduates are satisfied with their careers wherever they are working, we know that they value the opportunity to spend some time in the UK working after their degree. This visa will make it significantly easier for them to do that.”
Adding to that, she said, "The UK ranks first for international student satisfaction overall, compared to other major study destinations, but having a more attractive post-study work offer will open the UK up to even more international students. It will also allow employers in all parts of the UK to benefit from access to talented graduates from around the world.”
Over the last three years, Indian Students coming to the UK registered a hike hitting around 22000 in the year ending June 2018. Which was a reversal from the usual downward trend in the past, increasing by 42 percent on the previous year.
Sir Dominic Asquith, British High Commissioner stated, "I'm delighted that numbers of Indian students coming to study in the UK are constantly increasing, having doubled over the last three years. Last year alone we saw a massive 42 percent increase. This exciting announcement will help ensure that the UK remains one of the best destinations for students across the world.”
The collective aim to cement the UK as a world leader in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) sector and as a science superpower is expected by the creation of new fast-track visa route for scientists and the removal of the limit on Ph.D. students moving into the skilled work via the visa route.
Almost half of all Indian Students which is 130,000 from 2008-9 headed to the Uk in the last 10 years chose a STEM subject according to official UK figures.
The 2020-21 intake of students to UK universities will start benefiting from the new graduate route.
The students will be able to switch onto the skilled work visa after 2 years if they find a job that meets the skill requirements of the route.
Opportunities to look for work, or actually work after graduating will be offered by the new visa, details of which will be unveiled in the coming months. The UK government stressed that the new route will also include safeguards to ensure that the eligible students are “genuine and credible” unlike the route which closed in 2012.
The launch of a 200-million pound genetics project at the UK Biobank, a health and charity resource that information and samples from 500,000 people coincide with the announcement.
500,000 Britishers volunteered over several years in which the UK biobank collected samples and health questionnaire information. It is now open to researchers from anywhere in the world who would want to use the resources to develop new treatments for different kinds of diseases.
Borris Johnson said that such projects wouldn’t be possible in the UK "without being open to the brightest and the best from across the globe to study and work."
All the groundwork on the new graduate visa is believed to be done by Jo Johnson, his brother who has been an ardent advocate for the need of a credible post-study work offer.
Leave a comment