Britain Defines Circumstances in Which Foreign Students Can Stay

By Aisha Labi

Under new rules set to start within weeks, foreign students in Britain will be allowed to remain in the country only if they have graduated from a university and have an offer for a job paying at least £20,000, or $31,500, from a "reputable employer" accredited by the national border-protection agency.

The move is part of a "radical overhaul of the student-visa system," according to the government. It echoes similar changes made in other Western countries that want to tighten immigration flows while remaining top destinations for international students and encouraging the best students to stay after their studies. Australia, for example, has revamped its immigration system, streamlining the visa process for university students, but increasing the regulatory burden for higher-education institutions. Britain's new post-graduation employment rules were among several modifications announced on Monday by the nation's immigration minister, Damian Green. The changes reflect the government's belief that, as Mr. Green put it, "in the past, too many students have come to the U.K. to work rather than study, and this abuse must end."

Universities have raised concerns over the extent to which the government's immigration crackdown is concentrating on students, who they insist should not be treated as migrants.

The elimination of the existing post-study work program, which gave students two years to remain in Britain and seek jobs after their programs ended, had already been announced. The "more selective" measures that will replace it are intended "to enable the brightest and best graduates to stay and work in the U.K.," according to a government statement.

The amount of money that foreign students must demonstrate they have to support themselves and their dependents has been increased; the government describes this as a reflection of the increase in the cost of living since the current amounts were set in 2008. Graduates with an entrepreneurial bent and a healthy bank account will also be allowed to remain under a new rule that grants visas to those with at least £50,000, or nearly $80,000, to invest in a business.

The government also announced a new graduate entrepreneur program, which it said had been developed in consultation with universities. This program will allow higher-education institutions to sponsor candidates to remain in Britain for 12 additional months, which may then be extended for another year if the sponsor institution "is satisfied with the progress they have made." Just 1,000 graduates will be eligible for this program.

Although the government's statement emphasizes that the new measures were formulated in consultation with university representatives, initial response from the sector was lukewarm.

In a statement, Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, which represents the vice chancellors of all British universities, said that universities "are particularly concerned about limited provision for post-study employment in the new rules." The rules, she said, "could harm the U.K.'s international competitiveness, and the competitiveness of universities in the international student market," at a time when Britain is already losing ground to competitors.