A major independent review has concluded that the UK’s graduate route should remain in place after it found “no evidence” it was being widely abused, strengthening the hand of universities as they fight to retain the post-study rights of international students.
The rapid assessment by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) found the two-year visa offered to those who have completed courses – which has come under attack as part of a wider crackdown on legal migration – was “not undermining the integrity of and quality of the UK higher education system”.
Instead, the visa has helped “universities to expand the range of courses offered while making up for financial losses on domestic students and research”, the reports finds, and “has also contributed to diversifying the range of universities…that benefit from the financial contribution international students make.
