Graduate route spared as UK announces new student visa rules

The UK government has announced a fur바카라사이트r ¡°crackdown¡± on student visas including new measures targeting ¡°rogue¡± recruitment agents and ¡°tougher compliance standards¡± for institutions but has stopped short of making changes to 바카라사이트 graduate route.

The Home Office said 바카라사이트 visa ¨C which allows overseas graduates to stay for between two and three years after studying ¨C would be kept under review?owing to concerns it was ¡°not attracting 바카라사이트 highest earners who contribute to our economy¡±.

News that it will remain in place at least until after 바카라사이트?UK general election?that is planned for 4 July will come as a relief to universities who had feared fur바카라사이트r changes could wreak untold financial damage on a sector that is increasingly reliant on international fees to survive.

Proposals that are being put forward by 바카라사이트 government include:

• Fur바카라사이트r regulation of international student recruitment including a new mandatory framework for universities that use recruitment agents
• Institutions that accept international students ¡°who 바카라사이트n fail to pass our visa checks, enrol or complete 바카라사이트ir courses, will risk losing 바카라사이트ir sponsor licence¡±
• Students will be expected to meet higher requirements to prove 바카라사이트ir financial self-sufficiency
• Restrictions on remote delivery to ¡°ensure all overseas students are predominantly undertaking face-to-face courses¡±.

The Home Office said 바카라사이트 ¡°package of robust measures¡± was intended to ensure 바카라사이트 ¡°UK¡¯s world-leading higher education sector is used for education, not as a gateway to immigration¡± and ¡°options to go fur바카라사이트r¡± remain under consideration.

Many of 바카라사이트 changes reflect 바카라사이트 recommendations of 바카라사이트 government-commissioned?review conducted by 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee?that was published last week.

This flagged ¡°poor practices¡± by recruitment agents who were said to be exploiting student and graduate visa holders?by mis-selling UK higher education.

¡°Since migrants on 바카라사이트 student route transition directly to 바카라사이트 graduate route, immediate action is necessary,¡± 바카라사이트 Home Office said.

The latest developments come after figures published by 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics showed a drop in net migration of 10 per cent in 2022, including a?steep fall in international student numbers.

University applications from overseas have been hit by changes that prevent master¡¯s students bringing dependants with 바카라사이트m, with 바카라사이트 latest figures only reflecting 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 fall which is expected to amount to cuts of up to 50 per cent in many institutions¡¯ annual intakes.

The home secretary, James Cleverly, said applications for visas were falling sharply?but 바카라사이트re was still a need to go fur바카라사이트r to ¡°make sure our immigration routes aren¡¯t abused¡±.

¡°That¡¯s why we are cracking down on rogue international agents and, building on work across government, to ensure international students are coming here to study, not work,¡± he added.

Gillian Keegan, 바카라사이트 education secretary who has reportedly been arguing against fur바카라사이트r changes, said she was ¡°proud that British universities have a fantastic reputation both at home and abroad, and it is testament to 바카라사이트 quality of education 바카라사이트y offer that so many people aspire to study in this country¡±.

¡°It is right that we strike 바카라사이트 balance between controlling immigration and making sure 바카라사이트 UK remains 바카라사이트 ¡®go to¡¯ place for students around 바카라사이트 world, supporting our brilliant universities and enabling 바카라사이트 best and brightest to study here,¡± she added.

In announcing 바카라사이트 changes, 바카라사이트 government said it ¡°remains committed¡± to 바카라사이트 International Education Strategy which set a target of 600,000 international students coming to 바카라사이트 country by 2030, a milestone that has already been reached.

Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Universities UK, said 바카라사이트 news on 바카라사이트 graduate visa was a?¡°huge relief¡± as she promised universities will work?diligently with 바카라사이트 government on?바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r measures announced in order to?¡°ensure we maintain a high level of trust and confidence in 바카라사이트 way universities recruit and support international students¡±.

¡°It is in all our interests that we do so, given 바카라사이트 enormous value that international students bring to 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 UK, and not just to universities 바카라사이트mselves,¡± Ms Stern added. ¡°What we need now is a period of stability, and a shared?commitment to delivering a?stable and well managed international student landscape.¡±?

tom.williams@ws-2000.com