News & Events

UK Home Office Confirms students who are in blended/distance learning mode can apply for Post Study Work Visa

The UK Home office confirmed that, even if international students begin/continue their studies online in the 2020/21 academic year, their right for post-study work shall sustain, as long as these international students are in the UK by the 6thof April and complete the final semester of their studies in the UK.

 

In September 2019, the UK had announced the Graduate Route plan in order to adjust its immigration system as it formally left the European Union. However, due to the complications that have arisen because of COVID-19, graduate/undergraduate students are required to either continue their course or start a new course via distance or blended learning. The guidance issued by the UK Home Office states with the prevailing situation, international students will be eligible to switch into the Graduate route on a concessionary basis, even if they spent some time studying outside the country.

 

Gary Davies, PVC for student recruitment and business development at London Metropolitan University, called for further guidance from UK Visas Immigrations to extend the window for visa applications to six months from three, to give international students the confidence of possessing a valid visa when they travel to the UK.

 

The former UK universities minister Jo Johnson also called for the government to extend the duration of the UK post-study work visa from the current two years to four years so as to help the sector overcome the setback of Covid-19 as well as Brexit. The post-study work visa plays a vital role in retaining international students as the UK has evidently lost market share since work rights were withdrawn several years ago.

Will Trump decision on suspension of work visa impacts Student Visa?

The recent headlines about Trump: “Trump signs order to suspend H-1B, L-1 visas till December” is once again shaking the sentiment of people wanting to go to the US. However, should study abroad aspirants (students) be worried about this?

No, this news is not expected to have any adverse impact on study abroad aspirants.

Let’s understand the facts: –

  • 1. The decision is only regarding to Work visas. Students who are studying or planning to study in USA will not be impacted.
  • 2. Students targeting Fall 2021 intake and graduating 2023 (Master’s/MBA) will not be impacted as these restrictions will be lifted by the end of December 2020.
  • 3. Trump’s administration has always favoured giving work visas to students who have completed their education in the US, advocating Merit-based immigration rather than a lottery.
TOEFL HOME BASED TEST – Now accepted by UK universities for Sep,2020
This is to update you all that below listed UK Universities are accepting TOEFL Home Based Edition for Sep 2020:
  • Cranfield University, Cranfield
  • Leeds Beckett University, Leeds
  • Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester
  • Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham
  • Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
  • Queen Mary University of London, London
  • University of Birmingham, Birmingham
  • University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
  • University of Salford, Manchester
  • Bangor University, Bangor