Your Passport to a Career in the UK

The UK has been one of the most attractive destinations for undergraduate and postgraduate studies for students across the world. Indian students have gone on to the UK for higher education since time immemorial which isn’t surprising since the country hosts almost half of the world’s top universities,

Even though it has been a global education hub offering world-class education, there had always been some friction between academicians and the UK government when it came to allowing students to work in the UK post completion of their education. Even then, given that 4 of the world’s top 10 universities are located in the United Kingdom, reports say that there was a whopping 63% increase in the visa applications to the UK by Indian students!

Earlier, the UK government allowed a 4-months work visa to Indian students. In a wave of encouragement from corporates and academicians alike, this rule was recently amended for all international students by the UK government, announcing a 2-year post-study work visa for all students graduating from a recognised UK university.

This policy will take effect next year and any overseas national who has a valid UK immigration status as a student and has successfully completed a course of study at undergraduate or postgraduate level or above at a government-approved UK higher education institution will be eligible for it.

Earlier, with the 4-month work visa, a lot of students missed out on crucial networking and job opportunities as organisations prefer to hire candidates that can stay for at least a couple of years, if not more. Therefore, the best part about this announcement is that it allows eligible students to work, or look for work, in any career of their choice for two years after completing their studies, demonstrating the commitment of the UK government to recruit the best global talent and opening up opportunities in all domains for international students, establishing UK as an educational as well as favourable work destination.

This policy was blocked by the former prime minister of the UK, Theresa May, around nine years ago. Now, Boris Johnson has effectively reinstated the policy. This reinstatement will allow students to discover their full potential and gain valuable work experience that can help them further their careers in any field of study they are pursuing!

Being a teaching institution of The London School of Economics, ISBF welcomes this move by the UK government, allowing its students to explore work opportunities in London itself without worrying about the work visa. As a part of LSE’s Featured Teaching Institution, all ISBF undergraduate students have an opportunity to transfer to LSE in their second year and complete the rest of their education in London as an LSE student.

Since all ISBF students are enrolled as University of London students and receive a UOL degree, with this new policy in place, ISBF students will also have an extended opportunity to pursue a rewarding career of their choice in the UK itself!