Rishi Sunak wants to scrap UK graduate visa: What is it, how will it affect Indians?

Rishi Sunak wants to scrap the UK’s graduate visa scheme, according to a new report.

Sunak, who has made curbing migration to the UK his top priority, is facing an approaching general election in which Labour is poised to make major gains.

The UK prime minister is seemingly caught between the more radical wing of his party – some of whom are looking to unseat him – and the moderates who fear a Conservative Party wipeout in upcoming polls.

But what is the graduate visa scheme? How will it affect Indians?

Let’s take a closer look:

What is it?

The scheme allows students to remain in the UK for at least two years after finishing a course.

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Students must be in the UK when they apply for it.

Students can apply for it if they have studied a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period of time.

Students’ whose university or college has told the Home Office that they have finished their course can also apply for the visa.

It allows those with PHD or other doctoral qualifications to remain in the UK for three years.

Students looking to get this visa need to pay

• The Rs 87,000 application free

• Healthcare charge of Rs 1,10,00o per year.

Those with graduate visas can

• Job hunt

• Work most jobs

• Be self-employed

• Remain in UK with eligible partner and children

• Do volunteer work

• Travel abroad and return

Those on the visa cannot apply for benefits and pension or work as a sportsperson

It is important to note that the graduate visa cannot be extended.

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However, students that wish to remain in the UK can switch to another visa – the Skilled Worker visa, for example.

How will it affect Indians?

The visa being scrapped is likely to have a huge impact on Indians.

Indian have topped the list of those being given such visas since it was launched in 2021.

The data show that Indians were granted 89,200 such visas between 2021 and 2023.

Indians made up 42 per cent of all graduate visas allotted.

They said the visa was the “overwhelming decision point” when choosing a higher education destination.

Indian Express reported that the visa is particularly popular with Punjabis as it lets families, if they meet eligibility criteria, stay in the UK with the graduate visa holder.

“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, who is planning to take this visa, told the newspaper.

But Chitresh Dhawan, an Amritsar-based veteran in the study abroad industry, told the newspaper it was far too early to know how things will shake out.

“Things will likely become clearer in the coming days,” Dhawan said.

Meanwhile, UK university and business chiefs have warned that any curtailment of the post-study offer would make it less attractive to overseas students.

“Studying at university is one of our biggest export successes. Attracting international students boosts local economies and losing competitiveness would put support for undergraduate teaching and innovation at risk,” said John Foster, Chief Policy and Campaigns Officer for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

The independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has found that the scheme is not being abused and that it should continue as it helps UK universities make up for financial losses on the domestic front.

MAC chair professor Brian Bell, who concluded the rapid review into the scheme earlier this week, has said that “our evidence suggests that it’s the Indian students that will be most affected by any restriction on the Graduate Route”.

Sunak faces revolt

According to The Observer newspaper, Sunak is facing a Cabinet revolt over plans to scrap the scheme.

“Sunak is now finding himself caught between the demands of right-wingers with one eye on the Tory leadership and Conservative moderates who fear the consequences of a lurch to the right on the party’s reputation and election chances,” the newspaper quoted sources close to ministers who oppose scrapping the visa as saying.

Sunak’s Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Foreign Secretary David Cameron are among those in the Cabinet said to be leading a revolt over the issue.

“With the MAC finding that the Graduate Visa is achieving the government’s own policy objectives and is not being abused, it’s time to put its future beyond doubt and end this period of damaging speculation,” Foster said.

Universities UK (UUK), the leading representative body for UK universities, has also called upon the government to end the “toxic” uncertainty caused by the government’s decision to review the visa route.

“We hope and expect that the government now listens to the advice they have been given and provides categorical reassurance that the Graduate visa is here to stay,” said UK chief executive Vivienne Stern.

“The uncertainty caused by the review has been chaotic. We urge the government to accept the MAC’s findings and ensure the Graduate Route remains a stable and permanent fixture in the UK’s immigration system,” said Vignesh Karthik from the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK.

In a general election year, expected in the coming months, the Sunak-led government sees curbing high legal and illegal migration figures as a priority area and with the latest set of quarterly immigration statistics due next week, further clampdowns are on the horizon.

With inputs from agencies