Get a job or get out: the tough reality for international students

Visa controls make life difficult for international students who want to stay in the UK after graduation

International students account for almost a fifth (18%) of those in higher education, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa). However, unlike their British and EU-national peers, non-EU students have only four months after the end of their course to find a job, or they face deportation.

Most non-EU graduates go home after their studies, but of those who want to work in the UK, many apply for a Tier 2 visa. To be eligible for a Tier 2 visa:

• You must have been offered a job at a particular skills level by an employer with a Tier 2 visa sponsor licence
• Your job must pay a minimum of £20,800 (though this can depend on the job)
• You must have £945 in savings, unless your sponsor is fully approved (A-rated)

In 2014, only 5,639 students were granted leave to stay in the UK under a Tier 2 visa, according to the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)

Source: Get a job or get out: the tough reality for international students | Education | The Guardian