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UK: Grads of 2021 likely to benefit from PSW

While the UK sector has been rejoicing at the post-study work rights reinstatement this week, many international students have been asking for clarification on whether the rule change would apply to them, including many posting under our own news story.

post study work 2021Students on a Tier 4 visa when the rule becomes law will become eligible for the post-study work rights. Photo: Twenty20

"We can very very confidently say that anyone who graduates from the summer of 2021 onwards will also benefit"

And Home Office head of Student Migration Policy, Paul Jeffrey, confirmed during the Universities UK conference it is highly likely that the new regulations will apply to those students graduating in 2021.

I think we can very very confidently say that anyone who graduates from the summer of 2021 onwards will also benefit, that includes those who are currently in the UK now starting their [undergraduate] degrees,” he told delegates.

Explaining that there is “significant technical work” to do amid the wider context of immigration changes as the country leaves the EU, for that reason, “we are not able to say categorically when this route will be introduced”, he said.

But the Home Office expects the new rule to become law in the first half of 2021, and anyone in the country on a Tier 4 status will immediately become eligible for the post-study extension.

Jeffrey noted the government can say “with absolute certainty” that any student enrolling in 2020/21 will benefit, and furthermore that the rule is expected to become law in 2021.

Initially, the Home Office press announcement only stated that the rule “would include students who have Tier 4 at the point the route is introduced. This includes students who start courses in 2020/21 at undergraduate level or above”.

International students half-way through their courses took to social media to query how it might impact them.

Jeffrey also confirmed that international students can access any level of job in any sector, so the rights are “unrestricted”.

International students can access any level of job in any sector

They will need to be in the country when they make the application to switch from the student route into the graduate route.

It will be an “unsponsored route”, so there is no requirement for universities to maintain responsibility for their graduates while they try to access the jobs market.

They can then switch from this route into the skilled worker sponsored route, in due course, and there will be no access to benefits while on the graduate route.

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23 Responses to UK: Grads of 2021 likely to benefit from PSW

  1. Want to know that, if any student comes to January 2020 and complete his masters in the summer of 2021 or 2022 , then the new rule is benefited for student or not?

  2. I have read that from this website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-announces-2-year-post-study-work-visa-for-international-students.

    A ‘Post-Study Work visa’ in India, the new Graduate route will launch for the 2020/21 intake of students to university. Now, for example if someone course begins

    Course: MSc
    Method of study: Full Time
    Start date: January 2020, Intake
    Estimated end date: Next Year (say for eg. May)2021

    But, Jan 2020 intake comes under academic intake 2019/2020. Hence, would they be eligible for PSW.

  3. Want to know that, if any student that came in September 2019 and is doing bachelors and will be graduated in may 2022, then the new rule is beniffited for that student or not?

  4. Hello sir. I am Mirza from Bangladesh. I did complete my Graduation programs major in Law. I want to study in the UK LLM one year masters. If I start my one year LLM program from january 2020 then it will be complete january 2021. Shall I eligable for PSW….?

  5. Hi friends I am coming to uk on 2021 feb for my higher studies my course is one year 2021 -2022 . Can I eligible for psw

  6. With respect to the UK PSW, I would like to know if a Masters degree student that begins September 2019 and graduated 2021 after his professional work placement be eligible to apply for PSW.

  7. My degree Starts in Jan 2020 and it will end in Jan 2021. Please any one tell me i am eligible for PSW or not?

  8. I am student of masters and my course starts in september 2019 and end date is march 2012 so i am eligible for PSW or not??

  9. Hi , i am student of masters and my course starts in jan 2020 and complete in March 2021 and Visa expire in July 2021so i am eligible for psw or not.
    Pls reply…………

  10. I graduated in Environmental science in Masters level , i want to continue my PHD program but I don’t have money even for aeroplane ticket, I want you to help me for full scholarship.
    I wait your genuine response,

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