UK must ease limits on right to work for foreign students
A major advisory body has recommended that, the Ministers must ease restrictions, on the right of global students, to work in the UK, after completing their studies. This report will play an important role in the formulation of the Government Policy, regarding migration for higher education. The Migration Advisory Committee does not favor calls for exclusion of international students, from the government’s net migration target.
This is the first report commissioned regarding the aspects of immigration, before the departure of Kingdom from the EU. The second report, examining the effects of European Economic Area nationals, on the UK economy, will come out next week.
The aim of these studies is to inform the Home Office, on issues of the Immigration White Paper, which is due in the future. There is no clarity, on the way of treatment of students, from the EEA after the end of Brexit transition period.
The recommendations
The recommendations of committee are that PhD students should get right to work, for 12 months, after completing their course. Moreover, the master’s degree students should get the permission to work, for six months. Another recommendation mentions that students, completing their undergraduate degrees, should automatically get a preferential right, in skilled migrant visas, for a period of two years, after graduating.
These recommendations should be seen in the background of the demands, from Universities UK, canvassing for reinstating the automatic right to work for two years, after graduation in Britain. Alan Manning, MAC chairman, said the committee, was not in favor for a post-study work visa, because students who qualify will not be highly skilled. Moreover, they may take up the jobs of low-skilled local residents.
Encouraging talented global students is necessary
The growth is possible, when there is an immigration system, encouraging talented global students, to select the UK. Immigration is important, for boosting economic growth. The UK must not count students as migrants, as there would be pressure for reducing their numbers.
There was also a warning that Britain, presently the second popular overseas destination, for obtaining higher education, may lose its second place to Australia. International students, had no effect on the immigration numbers, because they leave the Kingdom, after they complete their studies.
The Home Office feels that the overseas students play a positive role in the economy, and in the education system. It agreed to consider the recommendations of the report. Finally, it assured to attract the top international students.