UK Government Initiates Review of Graduate Route for Post-Study Work Rights Amid Concerns and Timetable Disputes

The UK Home Secretary, James Cleverly, initiated a government review of the Graduate Route for post-study work rights, setting a deadline of May 14, 2024, for completion. Launched in July 2021, the Graduate Route allows foreign students to stay in the UK for up to two years (or three for PhD students) after graduation without requiring sponsorship. An analysis by Universities UK found that this initiative significantly boosted international enrollments and contributed over €60 billion to the UK economy between 2019/20 and 2023/24.

Cleverly emphasized the need to assess whether the Graduate Route is fulfilling its objectives of attracting top talent and supporting UK higher education while ensuring it isn't misused. Concerns were raised about potential abuse, with international graduates possibly exploiting the route to access the UK labor market with lower salary requirements than migrant skilled workers.

The review's terms of reference, outlined by Cleverly, include investigating evidence of misuse, analyzing the demographics and trends of route users, assessing their contributions to the economy, and examining any impact on the integrity of the UK's higher education system.

MAC Chair Brian Bell agreed to undertake the review but expressed concerns about the tight timeline, which limits the quality and quantity of evidence they can gather. He requested urgent data from the Home Office to facilitate the review process.

Universities UK raised similar concerns about the accelerated timetable, suggesting it may be driven more by political motives than policy considerations. They stressed the need to give the MAC sufficient time to conduct a thorough review, emphasizing that the primary purpose of the Graduate Route is to enhance the UK's competitiveness as a study destination, rather than solely addressing labor market shortages. Post-study work opportunities are crucial for international students to contribute to the UK economy after investing in their education. https://shorturl.at/hnIX7