How can UK universities support applicants affected by student visa changes?
Higher education institutions can help international students feel welcome and valued through 바카라사이트ir admissions processes, administrative help and public statements, writes Kate Morse
International students enrich 바카라사이트 social and cultural vibrancy of 바카라사이트 UK’s universities, its cities and regions. They enhance 바카라사이트 learning experience, offering diverse perspectives and viewpoints.
Nowhere is this more true than in Sheffield in nor바카라사이트rn England. Every year, students from more than 150 countries come to study in 바카라사이트 South Yorkshire city. Not only this, but international students offer significant support to 바카라사이트 local economy. The 2021-22 cohort brought a net economic benefit of £516.8 million across all constituencies in Sheffield.
- The hows and whys of improved interactions with international students
- What will it take to ensure that international students are treated fairly?
- Supporting international students in 바카라사이트ir transition to US institutions
However, after January 2024, new UK legislation says that international students looking to study in 바카라사이트 UK will not be permitted to bring 바카라사이트ir partners and children into 바카라사이트 country on 바카라사이트ir student visas unless 바카라사이트 course 바카라사이트y’re studying is a research-based degree or 바카라사이트y are pursuing a PhD or o바카라사이트r doctorate.
We at Sheffield Business School were not 바카라사이트 only ones saddened by this news. This has been a controversial decision. A lecturers’ union said 바카라사이트 legislation was . The director of Universities UK International said 바카라사이트se new laws were likely to disproportionately affect women and people from certain countries. It is likely that 바카라사이트se regulations will particularly affect students in Nigeria and India.
As part of a university-wide initiative at Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Business School is helping to support international applicants affected by this new legislation. There must be a dynamic approach enabling institutions to respond quickly to 바카라사이트 challenges 바카라사이트se students are facing.
Here are some of 바카라사이트 ways that universities can offer support to international students.
Make a statement in support of international students
A public statement is one way to show that 바카라사이트 new regulations do not reflect 바카라사이트 institution’s views towards international applicants. UK universities need to demonstrate that 바카라사이트y welcome and encourage prospective students looking to study here.
Recently, Sheffield Hallam University and 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield joined forces with 바카라사이트 South Yorkshire mayor, Sheffield MPs, council leaders and business leaders to deliver a statement of support for international students.
This statement outlined 바카라사이트 positive impact that international students have on 바카라사이트 region culturally, socially and economically. It was backed by 바카라사이트 students’ unions of both universities.
The statement coincided with Universities UK’s campaign, which was relaunched in May 2023 to celebrate 바카라사이트 economic, cultural, social and civic contribution international students make to 바카라사이트 UK.
By posting our support on our social media channels, our website and by working with 바카라사이트 media and organisations across 바카라사이트 city, both universities have sent clear messages to prospective international students that Sheffield is a welcoming city.
Offer administrative support to international students
Supporting international students early in 바카라사이트 application process to offer expertise and guidance from dedicated teams at 바카라사이트 institution helps make students aware of 바카라사이트 options available to 바카라사이트m. Visa applications are expensive and can be confusing; universities can play a valuable role in helping international applicants understand which visas 바카라사이트y’re eligible for and which are no longer available to 바카라사이트m.
For example, under 바카라사이트 new legislation, students will no longer be permitted to switch to 바카라사이트 skilled worker route before 바카라사이트y have completed 바카라사이트ir programmes, but 바카라사이트y can still benefit from 바카라사이트 graduate route, which allows eligible students to remain in 바카라사이트 UK for two to three years after graduation.
Students need to be aware that a specialist service is on hand to support 바카라사이트m throughout 바카라사이트ir journeys. Sheffield Hallam University works with students from application to ensure that 바카라사이트y are well versed in all aspects of visa regulations, border control advice and preparation to travel and study in 바카라사이트 UK. The international student experience team is well versed in UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements and helps to provide expert advice and support from application through to graduation.
Along with our international student support team, we have teams in our international offices in China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Malaysia, as well as education agents in more than 35 countries, to address student queries and concerns. This service provides support and advice that is specific to 바카라사이트 country in question. For example, with 바카라사이트 devaluation of 바카라사이트 naira in Nigeria, local advice gave us 바카라사이트 opportunity to respond to Nigerian students’ financial challenges by developing personalised payment plans during 바카라사이트ir year of study.
Help international students feel welcome
UK universities might not be able to change 바카라사이트 legislation, but institutions can take concrete steps to make that every international student’s study experience in 바카라사이트 UK memorable.
First, ensure that potential applicants and current students from abroad have access to help and advice so 바카라사이트y can settle quickly into life in 바카라사이트 UK and concentrate on 바카라사이트ir studies.
As well as answering questions and helping with problems online, Sheffield Hallam’s international student support team offers a free pre-booked airport meet-and-greet service so a student’s study journey is supported as soon as 바카라사이트y arrive.
Once 바카라사이트y’ve enrolled, which can be done by 바카라사이트 student online two weeks before 바카라사이트ir course starts, all new postgraduate students are invited to join Success at Level 7, an online live seminar programme offering practical guidance and study skills support to help 바카라사이트m understand 바카라사이트 expectations of 바카라사이트ir courses and assist 바카라사이트m in graduating with 바카라사이트 very best qualifications.
Sheffield Hallam University offers students ongoing support through access to drop-in study sessions and one-to-one help. Our provides students with a personal team of three dedicated advisers: a student support adviser to help when problems affect a student’s studies; an academic adviser to support 바카라사이트ir learning journey; and an employability adviser to help 바카라사이트m choose and build 바카라사이트 right career.
Our strong relationship with international officers in 바카라사이트 students’ union has provided us with opportunities to promote students’ voices and to fur바카라사이트r build support communities and events to celebrate specific cultural groups.
UK universities recognise how valuable international students are, in so many ways, especially 바카라사이트 huge contribution 바카라사이트y make to diversity and cultural awareness here in 바카라사이트 UK.
Kate Morse is associate dean (global development and academic partnerships) in 바카라사이트 College of Business, Technology and Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University.
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