The United Kingdom’s government declared a new post-study visa policy to permit international students from approved UK universities to reside in the UK for up to two years after their graduation. The new Graduate Immigration Regime will begin in the summer of 2021, implying that any student who graduates in the summer of 2021 or after will be eligible to apply. As an international student in the UK, this will make a huge difference for current and prospective students who are wishing to take complete advantage of this opportunity to pursue their professions in the UK.
The UK has always been an attractive study destination for international students, but staying in the UK after they finish their course can be difficult. Given the recent developments, students who will enrol for courses commencing in 2020/21 can stay there for two years after course completion. Presently, they need to apply for a Tier 2 visa (work visa) immediately on getting a job after finishing their studies. The Tier 4 visa is valid only for the complete duration of the academic course.
Previously, bachelor or master’s degree holders could remain in the UK for only four months to search for a job. With the new rules, they can stay for 24 months. International students are required to obtain a job with a minimum salary of £20,800 with a Tier 2 sponsor license. Also, students pursuing a PhD are permitted to stay up to 12 months after completion of their degree. In statements issued by the UK Govt., they have stressed that “the brightest and best of students should not come here and do menial jobs”.
UK post-study work visa for graduates
Since the UK post-study work visa policy change of 2012, graduates with bachelor’s or master’s degrees were allowed to seek work opportunities for only four months before they were required to return to their home countries. However, the recent update enables the international applicants to stay back in the UK to seek work for 2 years after completion of their graduate studies. The recent addition to the UK post-study visa is not new, rather it is an old policy that’s being revived. Before 2012, the UK allowed applicants on Tier 4 visas to stay in the UK and seek a job for two years after the completion of their graduation from a UK university.
The Graduate Immigration Route is a significant benefit for international students. The two years post-study visa not only gives graduates extra time to look for a job but also opens a window of possibilities for recent graduates to take the time to seek employment within the field of their degree.
This route will also enable students to appeal for longer-term work visas later on, such as switching to a skilled work visa. This is a huge bonus for international students who are thinking of long-term employment in the UK after graduation, or the possibility of transitioning into a permanent settlement.
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What if the course is online due to COVID-19?
Since the announcement of the new policy for the UK post-study visa in October 2019, a lot has changed in the world. With the COVID-19 global pandemic forcing universities to instantly transition to online or distance learning across the globe, the question in the minds of various current and prospective international students is, ‘what will happen if universities proceed with online teaching into the 2020/2021 academic year?’
Some of the most prestigious universities around the globe have already made tough decisions to protect their students. For example, world-renowned universities like Harvard, Princeton and Yale in the USA announced that they will drastically curb the number of students who are authorised to stay on campus and most of their teaching will be conducted online.
In the UK, several universities such as Cambridge have already announced that all their lectures will be online-only till the summer of 2021. Oxford on the other hand, amongst others, aims to use a blend of face-to-face and online teaching at the commencement of the new academic year in October 2020.
Regarding the new post-study visa policy, the Universities of UK believe that students ‘who study a portion of their course virtually and spend less than 11 months in the UK as a result, should not miss out on the Graduate Route’.
The department of the UK Home Office also affirmed that those studying by distance/blended learning will still be eligible to apply for the Graduate route as long as they have entered the UK by April 2021 and completed their final semester in the UK.
That means that if the applicants spend most of their studies in an online setting, they can still be eligible to apply for a post-study visa. A post-study visa offers a unique way to approach and attract international students, who make up a big chunk of UK Universities.
If the applicants are still thinking about whether to apply to a UK University, now might be the best time to apply to study in the UK. Having a UK degree already opens doors to the international employment market, but the two-year post-study visa provides the added incentive of allowing the applicants to stay in the UK to start their career with the help of their university.
FAQ
Who are eligible to apply for a UK post-study work visa?
All international applicants having a Tier-4 visa and are enrolled in an approved UK higher education from September 2020 are eligible to stay back in the UK for 2 years after their graduation.
What is the new post-study work visa policy for graduates in the UK?
The new visa policy, which will be applicable from September 2020 or later, permit international students to stay in the United Kingdom after graduation for up to two years.
Are international students allowed to work in the UK after graduation?
The new post-study work visa policy allows international students to work in the UK after graduation. This policy will apply to bachelor’s, master’s and PhD students.
From September 2020, every international student enrolling in a UK university can stay there for up to two years after completion of their degree.
What are the applicant’s options after the post-study work visa ends?
The post-study work visa permits graduates to work and stay in the UK for up to two years and look for employment. During this period, students are permitted to do any job except that related to their area of study.
Once the PSW visa expires, those who wish to continue staying in the UK require to apply for a skilled work visa or general work visa (Tier 2 visa). However, to get a Tier 2 visa, the general work visa, the applicant must be earning at least £30,000 per year. For some jobs, the aforementioned can be higher or lower.
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