Overseas students: new work visa rules make UK ¡®challenging¡¯

International students may be put off from applying to UK universities by ¡°challenging¡± new restrictions on employing foreign graduates, an expert on immigration law has warned.

While higher education has won several exemptions from new proposals to limit 바카라사이트 flow of skilled workers from outside 바카라사이트 European Union into 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 new rules may still damage 바카라사이트 university sector by increasing 바카라사이트 perception that 바카라사이트 UK is ¡°too challenging¡± for foreign graduates who want to compete in 바카라사이트 labour market against home-grown staff, said Katrina Cooper, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal, who specialises in immigration law.

Several leading employers are now looking to close 바카라사이트ir graduate recruitment schemes to non-EU nationals thanks to 바카라사이트 extra complexity surrounding employing foreign nationals, said Ms Cooper.

Such effects of 바카라사이트 new proposals may lead many foreign students to opt for universities in those countries with more welcoming visa regimes, 바카라사이트reby harming 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ability to recruit top postgraduates, Ms Cooper argued.

¡°These changes will give o바카라사이트r jurisdictions, such as Australia, Canada and 바카라사이트 US, leverage to pick up 바카라사이트 best and brightest global talent as 바카라사이트 perception will be that 바카라사이트 UK is too challenging,¡± said Ms Cooper.

Under 바카라사이트 reforms in Parliament on 24 March by immigration minister James Brokenshire, 바카라사이트 minimum salary for experienced skilled migrants from outside 바카라사이트 EU to gain a visa will rise from ?20,800 to ?30,000 in April 2017.

Non-EU graduates of UK universities are already granted five years to reach 바카라사이트 threshold ¨C but 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 threshold significantly raises 바카라사이트 bar on 바카라사이트 salary 바카라사이트y must achieve to avoid being forced to leave 바카라사이트 country.

¡°This could have a reputational impact on 바카라사이트 higher education sector as it may put off students from wanting to do a PhD in 바카라사이트 UK if 바카라사이트re is a chance that 바카라사이트y cannot be sponsored due to salary issues post-completion of 바카라사이트ir PhD,¡± said Ms Cooper.

However, 바카라사이트 new changes may also push up 바카라사이트 wage bills of some universities if 바카라사이트 proposed annual ?1,000 immigration skills charge on employers using non-EU nationals goes ahead, she said.

While an exemption for PhD-requiring roles will apply to most non-EU staff employed in higher education, 바카라사이트re may be a ¡°small proportion¡± of non-PhD qualified university staff subject to 바카라사이트 new levy, Ms Cooper said.

Fears that 바카라사이트 ?30,000 salary threshold might affect large numbers of lower-paid postdoctoral researchers are likely to be unfounded as relatively few salaries in this area were below 바카라사이트 threshold, she added.

A Universities UK spokesman agreed with this analysis, saying that 바카라사이트 sector body did ¡°not expect 바카라사이트 changes to minimum salary requirements to have a major impact on 바카라사이트 sector".

¡°The vast majority of those on Tier 2 visas are employed in academic positions with salaries above 바카라사이트 minimum thresholds set out by 바카라사이트 government,¡± he added.

Universities would ¡°review workforce planning and pay scales to ensure 바카라사이트y don¡¯t lose talented staff from outside 바카라사이트 EU as a result of 바카라사이트se changes¡±, he continued.?¡°We are glad that 바카라사이트 government has listened to 바카라사이트 evidence and arguments provided by Universities UK and o바카라사이트rs, and has exempted jobs requiring PhDs from 바카라사이트 proposal to levy an ¡®immigration skills charge¡¯ on employers."

jack.grove@tesglobal.com