After much speculation and apprehension about the changes that Brexit could bring to foreigners in the UK, news to celebrate: the government has extended the visa period to up to one year for international students seeking work in the country.
The decision is part of a package of measures to increase the number of foreign students in British territory. Before, the individual was allowed to stay only four months after graduation – doctoral students, however, could already apply for the additional one year.
According to an official announcement by the Department for Education (DfE), “there is no limit to the number of international students who can study here and, to ensure that the UK continues to attract and welcome them, the post-study leave period will be extended to six months for undergraduate and masters students and one year for doctoral students.”
The text also states that the government will also consider “how the visa process can be improved for applicants and support student employability”, implying that a new measure will be announced soon.
Together with the Department for International Trade, the DfE intends to launch a strategy for international education that will increase the number of international students by 30% over the next decade, which would mean a jump to 600,000 international students in British universities by 2030 – the current number. is 460 thousand.
This would be an ambitious goal, as members of the European Union will have to pay the same fees as students from other countries, in addition to losing access to student loans due to Brexit.
In an interview with The Guardian, education secretary Damian Hinds explains that “As we prepare to leave the European Union, it is more important than ever to reach out to our global partners and maximize the potential of our best resources. This includes our offerings in good education.”
The measure is seen with good eyes by UK universities, although they still find a short period. Some plan to formally request the government to extend the visa to at least two years.
