The majority of overseas students in the UK are Indians. Indians have received a notably higher number of student visas lately. The UK Home Office reports a 54% rise in Indian student visas granted between June 2022 and June 2023. Indian nationals have received seven times as many visas since June 2019.
The Graduate Route Visa (GRV) programme
The UK government launched the Graduate Route Visa (GRV) programme in July 2021, intended for overseas students. For a maximum of two years after graduation, graduates from UK higher education institutions are permitted to remain in the country and seek employment. After completing a PhD, the stay may extend to three years. This visa allows graduates to work experience in the UK without requiring a job offer.
Qualifications
International students can apply for this visa if they meet two requirements: they must have a valid Tier 4 or Student visa at the time of application and have successfully finished an undergraduate degree or above at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance. In the UK, a Tier 4 visa is a type of student visa. It is intended for foreign students who want to attend a school, college, or university in the United Kingdom.
How come Indians look for GRVs?
An individual’s stay in the UK can be extended after schooling using a Graduate Route Visa (GRV). It enables people to look for work and make good money. While on a GRV, people might attempt to get other visas by locating a reputable sponsor or employer, such as a work visa. Indian students, particularly Punjab students, are eager to stay in the UK. They have a gateway to do so in a GRV. It is well-liked because, under certain conditions, it permits families to accompany the GRV holder.
Implications of limiting the GRV programme
- According to experts, limiting GRVs may drastically lower the number of foreign students wishing to study in the UK. It would do this by generating doubt about prospects for employment after graduation and the chance to remain in the nation for an extended period.
- Limiting GRV to the top students will particularly hurt the chances of “average” students who want to study in the UK.
- In a recent study, the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended keeping the Graduate Return Visa (GRV) programme in place because it compensates UK institutions for their domestic losses.
- Experts predict that any reduction in the post-study offer will reduce the UK’s appeal to international students, particularly Indians. International students will simply choose a location that offers greater stability after studying in the UK. This suggestion was made when other nations, like Australia and Canada, had already imposed limitations on overseas students or planned to do so shortly. As a result, the UK was beginning to stand out as a top option, but Sunak’s decision has created doubt.
- Over 42% of GRV holders are Indian, making them the largest nationality again. Between 2021 and 2023, 89,200 visas—or 42% of all grants—were awarded to Indians. Thus, Indians will be greatly impacted by any specific modifications made to the UK’s GRV policy.
