UK Curbs may hit Indian students

Updated on: Thursday, March 24, 2011

Tougher entry criteria, limits on work entitlements and the closure of the post-study route are among the changes to the UK student visa system.

UK Border Agency regional director Chris Dix said "students going to the UK for a degree will no longer be allowed a two-year timeline to look for job opportunities after their course ends." This is one of the major changes to the UK immigration policy. The tier-I (post-study work) route will be closed from April 2012.

Dix said so long students had free access to the labour market for two years after their course ended and it allowed them to do low-skilled jobs. According to the new rules, only graduates with offers of skilled jobs will be able to stay for work. So far, students had an option of staying back for two years and earning in pounds that helped them pay off their debts back home. With such options being closed, students are likely to have a tough time repaying their loans.

UK-bound Indian students could work for two years after finishing a course. The money earned helped them pay off their education loans. The new rules will now make it impossible.

UK Curbs may hit Indian students

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