UK’s Graduate Visa Program Is Here to Stay
The UK continues to allure overseas education aspirants from India year on year due to its exclusive educational offerings, Commonwealth scholarships, and the promise of a safe and secure future beyond academics. However, this promise hinges on the graduate visa route—a student-centric immigration initiative that was under intense political scrutiny until recently.
If you are planning to study in the UK but feel unnerved by the impending regulatory changes to the visa—proposing to close the door on international students—there is good news for you. The graduate visa is here to stay!
Read on to learn about the UK graduate visa program and its impact on your career aspirations and future plans.
Graduate Visa Program or Graduate Visa Route
The Graduate Visa Program was introduced by the UK government in 2021. The visa essentially enables international students to live and work in the UK for 2 years after graduating from any UK-based university. The period is extended by a year for doctoral students.
The visa, though not extendable, is a transformative initiative that offers multi-faceted benefits:
- UK-based companies can avail themselves of skilled foreign talent.
- Fresh graduates can gain international exposure by working for local and international organizations in the UK over a two-year period.
Eligibility
- You should have pursued and completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in UK
- You have a valid UK student visa
- You can apply while pursuing your studiesx
Validity
- Your visa validity is linked to your degree
- You can stay in the UK for 2 years if you are a graduate
- You can stay in the UK for 3 years if you have a doctoral degree
Visa Fees, Other Costs and Decision
- Your visa will cost you around 90,000 INR
- You will have to pay healthcare surcharge @1,10,000 INR per year of your stay
- You can get a decision on your visa within eight weeks of application
The Objective of the Graduate Visa Program
The visa was introduced with a three-point agenda
- To boost Britain’s education export by attracting 6,00,000 students by 2030
- To provide UK based establishments with the opportunity to draw from a wider pool of highly skilled labor (and)
- To enable international students to make a significant contribution to the British economy
The Impact of the Graduate Visa Program
There has been a surge in enrolment since the introduction of the visa, leading to a rise in housing costs, especially in London. More importantly, the visa was seen by some right-wing politicians, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as an easy immigration route to the UK. In keeping with this perspective, there were talks of abolishing the visa program altogether due to high immigration numbers, as per the latest quarterly immigration figures.
While concerns about overstretched housing and the surge in international students are real, the source of the problem lies elsewhere. The UK government’s Migration Advisory Committee has recently reported that there is no evidence of abuse of the graduate visa scheme.
Current Status of the Graduate Visa Program
Therefore, the proposal to abolish or tighten the visa program has met with strong opposition from several key cabinet ministers, education secretary foreign secretary and higher educational institutions in the UK. As a result, the prime minister has stalled his plan to scrap the Graduate visa.
What Does the Decision to Retain Graduate Visa Mean to You?
- UK continues to remain a welcoming destination for Indian students. So, you can go ahead with your plans of studying in UK’s leading universities from the Imperial College London to University of Oxford.
- You can avail of exclusive scholarships based on program and university selection.
- You can study, work and live in a safe, secure, culturally and intellectually enriching environment.
With The Netherlands, France, Canada and Australia limiting their student intakes, the UK government’s decision to retain the graduate visa should serve as a silver lining for Indian student.
Collegepond, with its robust presence in study abroad counseling for over two decades, has assisted numerous students in securing admission to prestigious universities across the UK—a nation renowned for its world-class education. If you are enticed by the favorable prospects to study in the UK, connect with us at Collegepond and learn how we can enhance your chances of gaining acceptance to your target university in the UK. There’s never been a more opportune moment to capitalize on the graduate visa benefits and transform your UK dream into reality.
