UK Undergraduate experience: What should students expect post the new visa laws

There is good news for Indian students going to study in the UK as the UK Government has reintroduced the two-year post-study work visa. This amendment enables international students to remain in UK for two years after they have completed their studies. Currently, most international students pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees can stay and work for only four months. Due to this, UK had not been a very popular choice of destination for education as it reduced job opportunities and most Indians would have to return to the country without any work experiences. With the new visa laws in place, the job scenario will improve drastically for Indians as they will have two years to secure themselves a job after graduation.
 

What is the new UK post-study visa?

The UK government has introduced the ‘Graduate Immigration Route’ which will allow undergraduate and postgraduate level students to stay back for two years to look for a job after graduation. The visa will be two years long and will be a separate visa, requiring a new application.
 

How do I apply?

The new 'Graduate' route will be open to all international students - including those from India - who have a valid UK Tier 4 Visa at the time of application and have successfully completed a course of study in any subject at the undergraduate level or above. Those who graduate and whose Tier 4 visa expires before the route is launched will not be eligible.

When will it be launched?

It will launch for the 2020/21 intake of students to university.

What is UK Tier 4 Visa?

It is the visa issued to all students, undergraduate and postgraduate, to enable them to study in the UK. This visa allows students to stay in the UK for an initial period which varies depending on the length of the course.

What does it mean for Indian students going to UK vs the USA?

In America, students are issued an F1 visa after successfully completing their studies which allows them to stay for a maximum of 12 months in the US. For international students pursuing STEM subjects, they are allowed to remain for three years after finishing their course of study. 

For Indians, UK is an attractive destination to pursue higher education as it provides a shorter and cheaper route to a degree as compared to the institutions in USA. In UK, students can also pursue a number of masters degree courses fresh out of undergraduate college, while in the USA, 16 years of education or work experience is mandatory in most universities. 

The new visa law is an attempt by the UK government to reconfirm its position as a world leading destination for students from India. It is a welcome development for Indian students and UK education institutions alike. The new route supports the ambitions of Indian students, who, as we know, consider post-study work option as an important factor when making their choice of studying abroad.