One of the key factors for international students evaluating possible academic destinations is the potential for post-study opportunities, including employment. Gearing up to study abroad comes with a significant amount of planning, deliberation and the associated anxiety of starting a new chapter in an unfamiliar environment. Being able to have a clearer vision of what may lie ahead does much to allay any fear or trepidation. Students who have been giving the UK serious consideration have received a significant boost with the recent announcement of a change to government policy to the work visa for international students.
The UK government has re-instated a pre-2012 policy granting international students, who graduate from a UK university, a two-year post-study work visa. The first graduating class to benefit from the change will be those students who are enrolled for the 2020-2021 academic year. The move marks a significant alteration from the previous timeframe granted by the government of four months. With over 450,000 international students enrolled at UK institutions, and plans over the next decade to grow numbers to 600,000, the policy facilitates an environment in which international students are enabled to make a positive contribution to universities, the higher education sector, the economy and the cultural fabric of the country.
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Under the new policy the government has not imposed any caps on applications and graduates from any subject area qualify. There is however an emphasis placed on STEM subjects, with international students constituting almost half of the number of enrolled students in STEM fields at UK institutions. The policy offers international students a pathway to skilled work and possible immigration long term, placing the UK firmly at the top of desirable study abroad destinations. Why not start exploring your possible UK academic adventure by looking at what’s on offer and getting some insight on what studying in the UK is like? You can check out our guides to the cost of living in the UK, some financial tips for studying in the UK and what tuitions fees are like in the UK. It could be the beginning of a new and exciting life chapter.
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