| answer text |
<p>Extensive engagement has taken place across the government, both at a ministerial
level and official level, throughout the development of the future immigration system,
including on the new graduate and student routes and other points-based routes.</p><p>The
graduate route, launching in summer 2021, represents our continued commitment to support
the UK’s education sector and our strong desire to make a truly world-leading offer
to international students, allowing new graduates the opportunity to remain in the
UK to work or to look for work after their studies. This is already a substantial
improvement on the UK’s previous post-study work offer of 4 months (6 months under
the limited pilot programme). Since we had originally announced the details of the
graduate route last September, the government announced a further change, extending
the post-study work period to 3 years for PhD graduates.</p><p>We believe that 2 years
(3 years for PhD graduates) is a fair and generous amount of time to allow international
graduates to have unrestricted access to the UK labour market, enabling them to gain
valuable work experience and to kick-start their careers. We also believe this will
help to ensure that the UK continues to be an attractive destination for international
students. We will of course keep the operation of the graduate route under review
once it has been implemented.</p><p>At the end of their leave as a graduate, international
students who wish to stay and work in the UK for longer will also be eligible to switch
into employment immigration routes. We are reviewing and simplifying the employment
routes as part of the government’s work on the future borders and immigration system
to ensure that they meet the UK’s needs.</p><p>The government also recently published
and updated bespoke guidance for students impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, setting
out important flexibilities at this time. This includes confirming that those studying
by distance/blended learning will be eligible to apply for the graduate route provided
they are in the UK by 6 April 2021 and meet other requirements of the route.</p><p>
</p><p>We now have a world-class student visa offer befitting our world-class higher
education sector, which will only improve once the student route is operational later
this year and student visa processes are further streamlined.</p>
|
|
