The Higher Education community has welcomed a move by the UK government to revert back to pre-2012 rules that ensure international students commencing a course next year will be able to stay in the country for two years to look for work.
Currently, international students on visas can only stay in the country for four months.
Universities had for long been advocating for this policy, over fears of dropping numbers of international student enrolment.
In a statement, LSE welcomed the move: “International students make an enormous contribution to the LSE community, to London and to the UK more generally. It makes sense that we have a visa system which actively encourages top students from around the world to study here”.
The Head of Policy (Research and International) at the Russel Group – to which LSE belongs – Stephanie Smith spoke for the group adding “we are pleased that the Government has listened to the voice of the sector to ensure this route is open to graduates studying all courses at degree level or above, without restrictions on the type of employment or salary, or the requirement for universities to act as sponsors.”
