London: Indian student bodies have voiced their displeasure at a report scrutinizing the types of international students entering the UK. The report suggests that the UK’s graduate route has not attracted the anticipated global talent, with students opting for less selective, low-fee universities and ultimately ending up in low-skilled, low-wage jobs.
Indians constitute the largest cohort of international students in the UK, with 139,700 student visas issued to Indian nationals in 2022, comprising 30% of all international students. The graduate route, introduced in July 2021, allows students to work in the UK after completing their studies.
The Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) 2023 annual report cautions that “preliminary evidence points to a very different set of students accessing the route than might have been expected.” It suggests that some students are utilizing the scheme as a means to work in the UK rather than for the quality of education, transforming it into a “bespoke youth mobility scheme.”
Indian National Students Association (INSA) criticized the report, emphasizing that most Indian students were dissatisfied with the quality and quantity of job opportunities in the UK. INSA UK National President Amit Tiwari urged authorities to examine the courses offered by UK universities.
The MAC, commissioned by the UK government to review the graduate route next year, highlighted concerns that the scheme may not be attracting the anticipated global talent, with students likely entering low-wage roles. Professor Brian Bell, MAC Chair, suggested that restrictions might be needed if the visa’s objective was to retain skilled workers in the UK.
National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK Founder Sanam Arora urged a focus on addressing unscrupulous agents selling immigration rather than education. The report has triggered a broader discussion on the effectiveness and objectives of the UK’s graduate route.
