There’s good news for all who are planning to study and work in the United Kingdom as the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has announced that international students would now be able to stay and work in the UK after graduating.
From next year (2020), all international graduates would qualify for a two-year period to work in the UK, increasing their chances of finding long-term employment after studying.
According to the Prime Minister, the new immigration route for international students was part of making Britain open to the brightest and best from across the globe.
This is a welcome policy because prior to this, international students were restricted to staying not longer than a period of four months after graduating. Those who were willing to stay longer will have to apply for a different visa. The aforementioned decision was made in 2012 during the administration of ex-Prime Minister David Cameron and announced by the then home secretary Theresa May.
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Eligible candidates: This policy change will apply to international students in the UK who start courses at undergraduate level or above from next year. The students must also be studying at an institution with a track record in upholding immigration checks. There are no restrictions on the type of jobs students can have to seek as they can choose from any sector in the country.
In the past, critics of this policy argued that it could have a negative effect on the British economy. One of their arguments was that it could discourage international students from applying to British institutions which would ultimately lead to the loss of bright students who could contribute to the UK after being educated there and also loss of revenue for these institutions.
What you should know: This seems like another opportunity for Nigerian graduates who tend to seek greener pastures in a well developed geographical entity. With this move, Nigerian students who have made Canada, Netherlands, Ireland and so on, their preferred place to study due to the employment opportunities available in those countries will have a rethink and choose the United Kingdom.
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