The Home Office has announced that international students are again eligible for a two-year work visa after graduating from a British university, up from the current limit of four months.
Bringing back a policy that Theresa May labelled ‘too generous’, international graduates will be eligible for the extended visa as of next year. Designed to propel rates of long-term employment, the policy will also allow graduates to apply for jobs outside of their respective fields – promoting flexibility and equal opportunities.
Universities UK – the representative of 130 institutions – strongly approved of the policy, believing it will soothe any post-Brexit decrease in the enrolment of EU students. By offering an extended and versatile visa, mutual benefits arise for both employers and students who will ‘hold life-long links to the UK’, said chief executive Alistair Jarvis, adding that it would make the UK ‘a first-choice study destination’ again.
But does the amendment do enough?
Despite institutional enthusiasm from the higher education sector, the policy’s aim to bring more international students to the UK is questioned by members of Parliament. Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott has cited the ‘foolish’ £30,000 salary cap for existing work visas is the government policy which will ‘prevent’ the UK from attracting graduates to study, work and live here.
The Department of Education has since released requirements for the visa’s eligibility, including ‘successfully completing an undergraduate course’ to providing a ‘track record of compliance’. This visa will come into force next year.
The UK educated 460,000 international students from outside the EU in 2018.
