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UK approves working permit for Nigerians, other grad students

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UK approves working permit for Nigerians, other grad students

The United Kingdom Government has disclosed that international students who want to work in England after completing successfully a UK degree at bachelor’s degree-level or above, or a qualified professional qualification, would be able to do so now.

Nigeria is one of the major nations sending students to the United Kingdom, and the numbers have grown over the past few years. In accordance with statistics, in 2020 more than 13,000 Nigerian students were granted a UK study visa, an increment of 56 per cent on the previous year.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing

The British Government announced that the graduates could search for a job after their studies for a maximum period of two years and three years for PhD students.

As indicated in a statement by the British High Commission, this will enable the UK to retain the most intelligent and the best students to keep on contributing to the UK post-study.

It further stated that applications for the graduate course will open on July 1, 2021, making sure Nigerian students would keep on choosing the UK as the target to study and build their careers.

This was enclosed in a statement on Thursday,  tagged, ‘New UK post-study graduate route to open to Nigerian students this summer,’  signed by the second Secretary Political/Head of Communications, British High Commission, Dean Hurlock.

It said, “Today, the UK government has confirmed the new Graduate route will open for applications on 1 July 2021, to international students who successfully complete a degree at undergraduate level or above in the UK.

“International students on the Graduate route will be able to work or look for work after their studies for a maximum period of two years (three years for PhD students). This will allow the UK to retain the brightest and the best students to continue to contribute to the UK post-study.”

The High Commission further declared that the coronavirus concerns for students not able to travel to the UK due to the COVID-19 epidemic have likewise been extended, identifying the ongoing trouble many face in global travel.

It disclosed that applicants who started their studies in autumn 2020 should have been in the UK by June 21 (updated from 6 April 2021) to be qualified to apply to the Graduate course, also that students who started their studies in January or February 2021 will need to be in the UK by September 27.

“The Graduate route will be unsponsored, meaning applicants will not need a job offer to apply for the route. There will be no minimum salary requirements nor caps on numbers – Graduates on the route will be able to work flexibly, switch jobs and develop their career as required.

“To be eligible, international students must have completed a UK degree at bachelor’s degree-level or above, or an eligible professional qualification at a higher education provider, with a track record of compliance with the UK Government’s immigration requirements,” the statement stated.

It declared that the new graduate course would help the UK Government to accomplish the ambition set out in the International Education Strategy to expand the number of international students in higher education in the UK to 600,000 by 2030.

Remarking on the turn of events, the UK Minister for Future Borders and Immigration, Kevin Foster stated, “As we rebuild from the impact of the global pandemic, we want the world’s brightest talents to see the UK as the natural home for their aspirations.

“The launch of this new route will ensure those who graduate from our world leading institutions will easily be able to secure the status they deserve to continue living and working as they make our United Kingdom their home.”

In her comments, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, said, “In 2020, over 13,000 Nigerian students were granted a UK study visa to continue their academic journey. This is a testament to the strengthening educational relationship between the UK and Nigeria.”

“We hope the launch of this new post-study work route will provide an exciting opportunity for Nigerian students to build their careers, and discover new opportunities that the UK has to offer.”

 

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