Rishi Sunak contemplating changes to UK’s Graduation Route visa: How will Indians be affected?

The prospective move comes amidst the Tory government’s attempts to curb migration into the UK. If it does come through, Indians will be among the most affected.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during the Farm to Fork summit in Downing Street, London, Britain, May 14, 2024. (REUTERS/Toby Melville)

Written by: Anju Agnihotri Chaba

4 min readJalandharMay 19, 2024 01:23 PM IST First published on: May 18, 2024 at 03:21 PM IST

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is contemplating tweaking the United Kingdom’s Graduate Route visa (GRV) scheme, with a view to restrict visas to only “the best and the brightest” and curb the influx of international students to the country. Sunak’s prospective move will particularly target education recruitment agents who provide misleading information to UK colleges and authorities.

For Indians, who make up the largest market for UK study visas, this move might have some serious ramifications. Here is what you need to know.

What is GRV?

The GRV was introduced by the UK government in July 2021. It permits individuals to remain in the UK for at least two years upon successful completion of a bachelor’s, post-graduate, or other eligible courses. For those with PhDs or other doctoral qualifications, the GRV extends to a three-year stay.

A GRV applicant must be in the UK at the time of application,holding a Short-Term Study visa or a General Student Visa (Tier 4). Additionally, the applicant’s education-provider must notify the UK Home Office about the course’s successful completion.

Why do Indians seek GRVs?

A GRV essentially extends an individual’s UK stay post-education. This gives them a chance to pursue employment opportunities in the UK and earn well. Moreover, while in the UK on a GRV, individuals can also try to obtain other visas (such as a work visa) by finding a good sponsor or employer.

Ultimately, many students from India want to settle down in the UK, and a GRV gives them a gateway to do so. It is especially popular among Indians (specifically those from Punjab), as it also allows families to accompany the GRV-holder, if certain eligibility criteria is met.

What will the impact of Sunak’s GRV tweaks be?

Experts say that Sunak’s proposal of restricting GRVs could significantly reduce the number of international students seeking to study in the UK by creating uncertainty regarding post-graduation prospects, and opportunity for a more long-term stay in the country. Restricting GRV only to the “best and brightest” will especially hinder prospects of the ‘average’ student seeking to study in the UK.

Rather than the UK, international students will simply prefer a destination which offers more stability post-education. However, this comes at a time when other countries such as Canada and Australia have also introduced (or will soon introduce) caps on international students. Due to this, the UK was emerging as a top alternative but Sunak’s move has brought in an air of uncertainty.

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“It is by working in the UK [after studies] that we can repay costly student loans, and make some money to lead a comfortable life,” Arashdeep Singh, an aspiring GRV holder told The Indian Express. He said that any change will seriously impact his plans after graduating. He also added that while some education agents may mislead students and authorities alike, they are nonetheless crucial to help people navigate the UK’s (and other international study destinations’) complex application process.

Chitresh Dhawan, an Amritsar-based veteran in the study abroad industry, however, told The Indian Express that it was too early to make definitive statements. “Things will likely become clearer in the coming days,” he said, adding that implementation challenges, including resistance from universities, may hinder any such move’s immediate execution.

How popular is the UK among Indians as a study destination?

Dhawan said that Indians make up the largest community of international students in the UK. Moreover, in recent years, there has been a substantial increase in student visas granted to Indians.

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According to the UK Home Office, between June 2022 and June 2023, there was a 54% increase in student visas issued to Indians. Also, grants issued to Indian nationals have risen seven-fold since June 2019.

Currently, Indians constitute roughly 42% of GRV holders, again, the highest among all nationalities. Thus, whatever the specific changes may be in the UK’s GRV scheme, Indians will be significantly impacted.