UK introduces the two year post study work permit visa again for international students who look to build a strong career and boosting their opportunities. After great debate and thoughts on losing their prominence in the higher education sector among other countries, this move had been reintroduced by the government.
According to British High commissioner to India Sir Dominic Asquith, this decision is very helpful for Indian students who can now spend more time in UK after completing their studies. This will help them gain more skills and experience.
Restrictions have been lifted on the kinds of jobs they prefer to pursue. A new graduate route will be opened to all international students who have a valid UK immigration status as a student.
Graduate Route Visa
This allows students who graduate both bachelor’s and master’s in summer to stay in the country for two years. incase of students who pursue doctoral degrees can stayback for 3 years and can do a job. Applications can be sent for Graduate Route Visa from July 1 onwards.
Unlike other visa you need not be sponsored by an employer to be eligible. There are no restrictions on the job you can choose, which means you can search for jobs related to your degree and gain experience.
As per the reports by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) there are 19,750 Indian students studying at UK campuses and among them over 11000 students pursue a Master’s degree, 1,555 students do a post graduate research and 6945 are into undergraduate courses.
What about students attending classes online?
In the situation of Covid 19 pandemic, online classes have gained popularity. Even though you are at you home country,attending classes online, you have the facility to apply for the Graduate Route Visa and should apply before the deadline which was 6th April but now it has been extended.
The visa will be eligible for the 2020-21 year intake of students and after two years of study, they can switch on to the skilled work visa. The route was closed in 2012 and unlike that, the new route will only allow genuine and eligible students and provides needed safeguards. You can heck the Gov.UK website to know the status of each higher education institutions.
Source: GOV.UK
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