‘Post-study work policies play a role for foreign students’

It is no stretch to say that post-study work rights can open doors to multiple individual success stories and growth opportunities for the host country. However, even though there is a whole world to choose from, students seek out particularly those countries that have favourable post-study work policies. Generally, the best study destinations are found in ‘traditional immigration countries’ like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US.

Recent developments in the UK’s policies has put the country back in the front seat. The UK is back to becoming one of the most popular study destinations following the present government’s restoration of its two-year post-study work visa policy.

This has opened multiple opportunities for foreign students, who can now seamlessly switch to a skilled work visa once they find a job after the completion of their studies.

Earlier the then Home Secretary Theresa May had scrapped the post-study work visa as a part of immigration crackdown in 2012, which was discouraging students to apply in UK universities. To avail the benefits policy that comes in force from 2020-2021, students must know that it will be a separate visa. They will have to fill a new application form, inclusive of immigration health surcharge and payment of a visa fee. Moreover, graduates need to see if their leave expires before the visa’s implementation as if it does, they will not be eligible for the benefits.

With all its eight universities ranking in the top three per cent of the world, New Zealand is well-known for its quality education and conducive learning environment. It has been gaining high traction among students, particularly the South Asian students for its liberal post work visa policies, in comparison to the UK and the US.

It allows students to work for almost any employer without any restrictions on the kind of job or its location after the completion of the course. The visa can be extended for up to three years. Moreover, the education programs that it offers are based on the British education system (also followed by South Asian counties, including India).

Many countries like the UK have been going through an anti-immigration sentiment. However, after witnessing a drop in the foreign student influx, the host countries are realising the economic benefits of cross-border student mobility. High revenues are generated from student tuition fees, increased spending by them on multiple other expenses and value addition by an international talent for the employer corporations.

The writer is Rohit Sethi, Director, ESS Global- Study Abroad Consultant