Indian students can now  extend stay in UK for 2 yrs to look for work

Sep 11, 2019

New Delhi: In news that would cheer India students, the UK Government has announced a new two-year post-study work visa, expanding opportunities for talented international students to build successful careers .

The new ‘Graduate’ route will be open 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 undergraduate level or above at an approved UK Higher Education Provider.

The visa will allow eligible students to work, or look for work, in any career or position of their
choice, for two years after completing their studies.

”This builds on UK government action to help recruit and retain the best and brightest global talent,  as well as opening up opportunities for future breakthroughs in science, technology and research and other world-leading work that international talent brings to the UK,” .
Home Secretary Priti Patel said in a statement.

“This is fantastic news for Indian students, who will now be able to spend more time in the UK after completing their degree, allowing them to gain further skills and experience,” said Dominic Asquith,  British High Commissioner to India. Indian students coming to study in the UK reached almost 22,000 in the year ending June 2019.

This was a 42 per cent increase on the previous year – and almost 100 per cent higher than three years ago.

This announcement follows the creation of a new fast-track visa route for scientists and the removal of the limit on PhD students moving into the skilled work visa route, which collectively aim to cement the UK as a science superpower and a world leader in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) sector.

Almost half of all Indian students (almost 130,000 since 2008/9) heading to the UK in the last ten years chose a STEM subject.

–India News Stream