A recent report commissioned by the British government has highlighted the significant role graduates under one of UK's post-study visa route play, aiding universities financially and enriching the country's research landscape.
The review conducted by the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) focused on the Graduate Route visa, allowing international students to stay for up to two years after their studies to seek employment and gain experience.
According to the report, in 2023, a total of 114,000 Graduate route visas were granted to main applicants, with an additional 30,000 visas granted for dependents. The utilization of the Graduate route is primarily concentrated among four nationalities: India, Nigeria, China, and Pakistan.
These top four countries collectively represent 70% of all Graduate visas, with India alone contributing over 40%.
The majority of individuals utilizing the Graduate route had completed postgraduate taught courses.
In 2023, 91% of Graduate visa holders had finished a postgraduate taught program.
Notably, the significant growth observed since the introduction of the Graduate route has been driven by postgraduate courses offered by non-Russell Group universities, which accounted for 66% of all Graduate visas.
This trend aligns with the increasing number of Student visas issued in recent years, indicating a preference for postgraduate education among international students at these institutions.
However, the MAC has said it could not assess the risk of overstaying due to a lack of data on this from the Home Office.
"We are concerned about potential exploitation of both Student and Graduate visa holders due to poor practices by certain agents and sub-agents who recruit students onto courses and may be mis-selling UK higher education, but this is a separate issue from abuse of the rules of the Graduate route." the report said.
MAC Chair Professor Brian Bell emphasized the importance of this route in sustaining universities financially, especially amidst losses incurred from teaching domestic students and conducting research.
The review also underscored the complex relationship between immigration and higher education policies, proposing measures such as mandatory registration for international recruitment agents and improved data collection to ensure the integrity of the system.
Despite concerns about potential abuse, the report concludes that the Graduate Route contributes positively to the UK's higher education sector and supports the government's International Education Strategy.
The report also noted a shift towards postgraduate taught courses among visa holders, with a significant proportion coming from non-Russell Group universities.
While the majority of visa holders initially engage in lower-paid work, their outcomes improve over time as they transition to Skilled Worker visas.
The government's interest in ensuring visa holders contribute to the economy comes amid broader discussions on immigration policy, particularly in the lead-up to a general election.
Indian student groups in the UK have expressed concerns about possible restrictions on this post-study opportunity, which is often a deciding factor for students choosing British universities over other destinations.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/work/are-foreign-students-taking-advantage-of-uks-graduate-visas-govt-backed-review-finds-no-evidence/articleshow/110114740.cms
