What Studying in the UK Entails
United Kingdom UK, is one of the popular destinations in the world for higher educational studies, most especially for international students from around the world. The United Kingdom has emerged about the top three best universities out of the list of top ten best universities in the world ranking presently.
UK degrees both at undergraduate, masters, and postgraduate levels are always internationally recognized because of the quality of education offered by their institutions and colleges which are globally accepted by employers of labour and also government bodies. Most international students choose UK universities because of the world-class reputation of the higher education degree and it also affords the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and critical thinking ability required to push their careers. Although, the United Kingdom is one of the best places to learn it comes with a hefty price tag, most especially for international students. International students pay far more than the regular tuition fees slated for domestic students. Most of the UK colleges are public colleges.
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The high cost of tuition for international students is mainly because tax-payers demanded that non-tax payers such as international students should support those universities by paying the full tuition. Most international students due to high cost seek financial aid available in form of research and teaching assistance programs, scholarships.
Also, financial aid for international students may be funded by grants, loans, or jobs which can be merit-based and need-based awards. Some of the benefits of studying in the UK include internationally recognized universities, quality education, opportunities offered by the UK education system, unique culture, work while studying, and work permit after studying, scholarships and financial support, strong research infrastructure, support system.
UK Two Years Post Study Visa
The United Kingdom government introduced a new graduate immigration route that is opened to international students who enter the UK academic year 2020/2021 onwards and have completed a degree at the undergraduate level or above at reputable higher learning institutions in their home country. Every successful applicant on the program is allowed to stay back after their study to seek employment opportunities for a maximum period of 2 years.
Graduates are also qualified under the skilled labour category provided and they are able to secure a suitable job. The UK post-study work is a pilot program, the visa allows international students to stay back and seek a job for up to 2 years after study just like other countries like Canada, Australia that issue postgraduate work permit for students at various lengths depending on their length of study.
This new UK visa rule comes into effect for all international students with no exceptions, starting from 2020 and after. As against the harsh and unfavorable immigration rules which only allow students to stay for a very short period of 2 to 4 months, this new post-study plan was introduced in a bid to boost the post-Brexit economy.
It is also believed that the new policy will put the UK back where it belongs as a first choice study destination for international students and also benefit a wide range of employers giving them more access to talented graduates from all around the world who previously had to leave due to the harsh and unfavorable immigration policy of the country.
How to Get the Visa
Students who enroll starting from September 2020 in the United Kingdom universities and colleges can get this specific type of visa. This applies to graduates of all higher education providers that are recognized as licensed visa sponsors.
Eligibility Criteria
- Any international student with a tier 4 UK visa enrolled at a UK institution from September of that year.
- PhD students are also allowed to stay back in the UK after graduation to seek employment.
Requirements
- People who are 16 years and above.
- Have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a license tier 4 sponsor.
- Financial buoyancy to support yourself and pay for the tuition.
- Not a citizen of a country that is of European economic area or Switzerland.
- Good knowledge of English Language or good language proficiency.
- All additional and necessary documents must be made available when requested.
How to Extend Post Study Visa
Those who enter the UK with a tier 4 visa can apply for extension of their visa by:
- Obtaining qualification for which the current immigration permission was granted.
- The course start date, in case of a student, is less than 28 days after the current visa expiry date.
- You must meet the eligibility requirement of the visa.
Post Study Visa for Graduates With Bachelor’s
As against the previous administration restrictive immigration policies as proposed by Theresa May, which only allows graduates with a bachelor’s degree to stay back for only four months to look for work. Graduates with bachelor’s degree are allowed to look for work for this short period of time. Thus, they will have better chances of staying or getting an employee who can sponsor their stay after their studies. As against the previous administration’s view that the two years post-study work permit is too generous, leading to a drop in the number of students enrolled in UK universities; initially, the country used to record the highest number of applicants around the world but with stricter immigration policies, the country experienced some setbacks. This new immigration policy has no cap or restrictions in the number.
In other words, it allows graduates with both bachelor’s degree and other higher degrees to apply for jobs regardless of their skills or subject of study. In fact, the government is targeting graduates in disciplines such as maths, engineering and technology.
The UK department of education stated that the new immigration scheme is available to international students who have successfully completed a course in any subject at the undergraduate level or higher provided they have a track record of compliance and have a tier 4 visa at the time this new route is introduced. The department of education stated that the route will allow graduates with bachelor’s degree inclusive to seek a job at any level and also permit them to apply later for longer-term work visas. They are also allowed to switch on to the skilled work route if they are able to get a job and also meets the skill requirement of the route.
Post Study Visa for Masters
The new graduate route is available to anyone completing a UK study degree from the next summer or after. It allows them to stay back in the country for up to two years upon graduation with no specific restrictions or cap on the type of occupation they choose since the new graduate program is opened to all international students including those from India who have valid UK immigration status as a student and have successfully completed a course of study in any subject at postgraduate level. This builds on the United Kingdom government’s action to help recruit the best and brightest global talents as well as opening up opportunities for future breakthroughs in science, technology, research, and other world-leading work that international talents bring to the country.
Generally, graduates from all UK universities are eligible for the post-study work visa. It is expected that the graduate is from a recognized institution by the British government, also known as licensed sponsors. The list of recognized institutions can change if any university fails to keep up its proven track record on upholding immigration and visa checks.
Therefore, before choosing an institution, it is advisable to check whether the university still has its accreditation. In other to qualify for the UK post-study work visa, a graduate student does not need a sponsor, however other types of visas require a sponsor. In this case, the university serves as the sponsor provided it qualifies.
This post-study visa applies to all graduates from all academic disciplines. In 2019, the UK government relaxed their visa rules especially for students graduating from higher-level degrees like masters in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), this is even extended to any degree starting from the next year.
Before the UK government made this decision of giving students extension after their study, there are other countries who made the post-study experience a beautiful for their graduates and among the list of countries with favorable immigration policies for international students are: Germany, France, Finland Ireland, Canada and a lot more.
This new policy has some restrictions, however, and some of them include: studying a full degree, the new visa rules do not apply to students studying a short course, English Language training course, A-levels, or the Baccalaureate.
Overall, as the UK introduce her pilot immigration plan to keep graduates at different levels of study, it is important to note some of the key facts and overviews. The program is only open to students who completed undergraduate level or above from recognized UK universities. Those eligible are those starting a program in September of the next session or those who have a valid tier 4 visa at the time of announcement of this scheme; whilst it is also very important to note that there are no restrictions to any field.
