Foreign students face tough new rules to work in UK

New student visa rules will come into force within weeks aimed at ‘cutting abuse of the student visa route and ensuring that only the brightest and the best students can stay and work in the UK’, the Immigration Minister Damian Green announced this week.

Currently there is a 'Post-study work' route that enables students to live and work in the UK for up to two years after they have finished their course.

But from early April this year a more selective scheme is to operate, meaning only those who 'graduate from a university' and have the offer of a skilled job earning at least £20,000 a year (more in some circumstances) will be allowed to remain in the UK.  The employer will also need to be one accredited by the UK Border Agency.

The minister said, ‘we have to be more selective about who can come here and how long they can stay. In the past, too many students have come to the UK to work rather than study, and this abuse must end.'

Full details of the new rules are available from the Home Office

The Complete University Guide offers information of all kinds if you are an overseas student thinking of studying in the UK