Were you hesitating to plan your studies in the United Kingdom because of the short post-study work visa? You can take a sigh of relief as The UK authorities recently announced the two-year post-study work visa for international students. This new immigration rule announced by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be great news for Indian and international students planning to pursue higher studies in the UK.
Currently, international students pursuing Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the UK can stay for only four months after completing their degree. Only international students studying in 27 universities which are part of the pilot scheme can stay back for six months.
Now, I will guide you through the new UK visa rule which will give you clarity for your future study abroad plans.
Candidates applying for courses in 2020-21 can avail the benefits of the new immigration rule. The new rule allows students to look for work opportunities or work in the UK for two years after completing their degree. To regain its lost glory in the higher education domain, the authorities have not put any limit on the number of students who can apply for the newly announced graduate route.
The scheme was scrapped by the former British Prime Minister Theresa May in 2012 making the UK less attractive amongst the international students. This led to a sharp decline in the number of Indian students going to pursue higher studies in the UK from 51,218 in 2010 – 2011 to 22,757 in 2011-2012. However, the number gradually improved to 21,881 in the year 2017-18. The announcement further said that the UK government would also consider “how the visa process could be improved for applicants and supporting student employment.”
This move will not only benefit prospective international students wishing to pursue higher studies in the UK but also equally benefit the UK economically.
Graduate Route: What you need to know
The best guidance for your STUDY ABROAD DREAM
Start your journey with the best study abroad experts in India
The Graduate Route is a new UK post-study work visa to be introduced for international students graduating in summer 2021 or later. It will allow international students to live and work in the UK for up to two years after completing their degree.
We will have reliable information on this Graduate Route only after Immigration Rules are published by the UK govt. The Home Office has clarified that this will happen by April 2021 as currently they are designing and implementing a whole new immigration system to come into force by January 2021.
More about the Graduation Immigration Route:
- The Graduate Immigration Route will be available to international students who have completed a degree at undergraduate level or above at a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance and who have a valid Tier 4 visa at the time of application.
- Successful applicants on this route will be able to stay and work or look for work in the UK at any skill level for a maximum period of two years. Graduates will be able to switch into skilled work once they have found a suitable job.
- The new route will be launched in the summer of 2021, meaning that any eligible student who graduates in the summer of 2021 or after will be able to apply for the route. This includes students who have already started their courses. Universities will also be able to attract students starting in the 2020/21 academic year on the basis that they will benefit from this new rule.
- The graduate immigration route will require a new application.
- It will include the payment of a visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. The exact fee will be announced in due course.
- Those who graduate and whose Tier 4 (student visa) leave expires before the route is introduced will not be eligible, however, most of these students will have had no expectation of benefitting from such a route when they applied to study in the UK.
Popular Questions Asked by Students About UK Study Visa:
Why can’t it be implemented sooner?
It takes time to develop a new immigration route and ensure the framework is in place for it to successfully operate. Introducing the route in the summer of 2021 will mean that all students who graduate in the summer of 2021 or after will benefit, regardless of when they started their course. This route was announced in September 2019 to ensure that universities and stakeholders could promote the route when attracting prospective students.
It will enable students to decide where to study, knowing they have the option of staying in the UK to work after completing their studies.
Will students who are already in the UK be able to benefit?
Any student who completes their degree-level course at a qualifying institution in the summer of 2021 or after will be eligible. This includes students who are already studying. Those whose Tier 4 leave expires before the route is introduced will not be eligible for it, however, most of these students will have had no expectation of benefitting from such a route when they applied to study in the UK. These students can still benefit from the generous provisions which allow them to switch in the skilled work route on favorable terms.
Will universities be expected to act as sponsors for those students on the graduate immigration visa after they have graduated?
Individuals applying for the Graduate Immigration Route will not need a sponsor. Tier 4 sponsors will not need to fulfil any sponsorship duties for their students if they switch onto the Graduate Immigration Route and students will not need a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to apply under this route. Tier 4 sponsors, however, will continue to be responsible for their students while they are studying.
Will this route count towards a settlement?
The route is non-extendable and does not count towards settlement. However, graduates who find an appropriate job and meet the requirements will be able to switch into skilled work, which is a route to settlement.
What is the UK student visa fee?
The application fee for a UK Student Visa (Tier 4) is INR 30,039.
What is the UK student visa processing time?
Generally, it takes three weeks to process a UK visa.
How difficult it is to get a UK student visa?
There are certain requirements which the aspirant needs to fulfil for getting a Student Visa. For those who wish to study a full-time degree program needs to apply for a Student Visa, as it is not issued for pursuing part-time courses.
Leap Scholar has now launched an online study abroad counselling program for students wishing to study in the UK. In this program, expert study abroad counsellors will evaluate your profile and help you to shortlist the right courses in the UK.
All Indian students wishing to study in the UK can avail expert guidance from our experienced study abroad counsellors, and you will get end-to-end assistance from us – from shortlisting colleges to applications to IELTS classes to visa applications – everything!
You can also watch a video by Leap Scholar to find out more about UK study visa.
