UK to Open New Graduate Route For Int’l Students on July 1

The United Kingdom will open applications for the new Graduate route on July 1, 2021, for international students who want to work in the country after receiving a Bachelor or higher degree in the UK, Erudera.com reports.

“The new Graduate route will attract talent and ensure that businesses can recruit the most highly qualified from across the globe to drive the economy forwards,” an official publication by the Home Office of UK Visas and Immigration stated.

According to the UK government’s press release, students eligible to apply for the Graduate route must have completed a course at a UK high education institution and a record of compliance with the government’s immigration requirements. Students in this program will work after their studies for two years or three years if they finish their doctorate.

The Graduate route will work for the UK’s whole states, ensuring that all communities can benefit from talented individuals who want to stay after their studies.

“As we rebuild from the global pandemic, we want the world’s brightest talent, who aspire to a career at the highest levels of business, science, the arts and technology to see our United Kingdom as the natural place to fulfill their aspirations,” Minister for Future Borders and Immigration Kevin Foster said.

Students don’t need to have a job offer or provide a salary requirement to apply for the Graduate route. The program allows flexible activity in its students’ careers.

The press release further claims that applicants have to enter the UK approximately ten months after applying for the Graduate Route. 

“Applicants who began their studies in Autumn 2020 will now have until June 21, 2021, to enter the UK (updated from April 6, 2021) in order to be eligible for the Graduate route. Students who began their studies in January or February 2021 will need to be in the UK by September 27, 2021,” the publication states.

According to the press release, this initiative will help the government achieve its goal set by the International Education Strategy to enhance the number of international students in higher education from 485,645 as of 2018/2019 to 600,000 by 2030.

As of October 5, 2020, the United Kingdom’s started including two new additional routes; the Student route and Child Student route, which is open for international students globally.

According to another press release issued by the UK government in September 2020, the role of international students is considered essential for the country as they contribute to the UK’s economy and education as well as display the UK’s capacity after voting to leave the European Union in 2016.