UK says student visa changes welcome brightest and best while tackling abuse

The United Kingdom this week said changes to student visas, announced last year and which come into force in April will cut abuse of the student visa route and ensure only the brightest and the best students can stay and work in the UK.

The current Post Study Work route, which allows students to work in the UK for two years after their studies have finished, will close.

Talented international students graduating from a university will still have the opportunity to stay on in the UK, but from 6 April they will need a skilled job offer from a reputable employer accredited by the UK Border Agency with a salary of £20,000 or more. 

The change announced by UK’s Immigration Minister Damian Green is part of the student visa system reforms to attract the brightest and best while cutting down on abuse, and which also include: A new Graduate Entrepreneur route, with up to 1,000 places in the first year of operation for students working on world-class innovative ideas who want to stay and develop them but do not meet the requirements of the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route;

An opportunity for young entrepreneurs or small company directors to stay on in the UK after their studies if they have £50,000 to invest in their business;  An increase in maintenance fees, for the first time since 2008, to ensure students have enough money to support themselves financially during their time in the UK; A restriction on work placements to one-third of the course for international students who are studying below degree level and not at a university. Additionally, the time that can be spent studying at and above degree level will now be restricted to a general limit of five years, with some exceptions.

Minister Green said: “It is vital that we continue to attract the brightest and the best international students but we have to be more selective about who can come here and how long they can stay.

 In the past, too many students have come to the UK to work rather than study and this abuse must end.  With the introduction of the Graduate Entrepreneur route and the restrictions on student work we are reforming the system to deliver immigration to benefit Britain.”