Are international students at risk of leaving the UK after university?
In 2023, Suella Braverman tried to cut the length of a post-study work permit popular with international students from two years to six months, originally intending to scrap it entirely.
Although the Department for Education blocked these plans, Parliament has not promised to maintain the Graduate visa and the costs have considerably risen since.
In December 2023, the new Home Secretary, James Cleverly, announced that the Home Office will commission the Migration Advisory Committee to review the Graduate visa to “prevent abuse.”
Amidst the government’s vague statements and increasingly harsh plans to cut net migration, international students are left with daunting questions about their future in a country that is becoming less and less welcome towards overseas graduates.
Jordinna Joaquin reports for Artefact magazine about the Graduate visa route in this audio package, featuring University of Hull graduate Loan Thu Nguyen and co-founder of immigration firm Luqmani Thompson, Jawaid Luqmani.
Featured image by Henry Thong via Unsplash.