On May 12, 2025, the UK government released a white paper detailing its strategic vision for the country’s future immigration policies.
The UK government shortens the 24 month graduate route job period to 18 months: Consequences for Students from Other Countries. The administration of Prime Minister Keir Starmer has revealed plans to shorten the Graduate Route work visa’s 24month length to 18 months, marking a dramatic change in UK immigration policy. As the main beneficiaries of this method, international students, especially those from India, will be significantly impacted by this move, which is a component of a larger plan to
reduce net migration.
The Graduate Route’s History The Graduate Route, which was first implemented in July 2021, permitted foreign students to stay in the UK for two years (three years for PhD graduates) and work or look for work at any skill level. The objectives of this policy were to increase the UK’s competitiveness in the international talent market, draw in international talent, and aid in the post pandemic recovery. Indian nationals accounted for 42% of the more than 213,000 graduate visas that had been issued by the end of 2023.
Justification for the Reduction:
Fearing that the existing policy may not be drawing in high earning professionals who make substantial contributions to the economy, the government decided to
cut the Graduate Route job duration. According to a report by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), a significant portion of graduates on this route held lowpaying positions, casting doubt on the route’s ability to achieve its stated economic goals. The government also wants to lower net migration by about 100,000 per year, with a projected drop from 728,000 in the year ending in June 2024 to 300,000 by 2029. Thus, a key component of the government’s immigration reform strategy is the Graduate Route, which has made a substantial contribution to these numbers.
In order to fund the system of higher education and skills, the government will also investigate the possibility of imposing a tax on the money received by overseas students from higher education providers. The government will also take action to stop student visa abuse. By amending the Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA), an annual evaluation used to track each sponsor’s degree of compliance, it will tighten the conditions that all sponsoring institutions must fulfill in order to hire overseas students.
According to the government, the minimum pass rates would be raised by five percentage points.For instance, in order for institutions to remain in compliance, they must now enroll in atleast95% of courses and complete 90% of them.To help identify which institutions are meeting and which are not, a new “Red-Amber-Green” rating system will also be implemented.
Consequences for Students from Other Countries:
For overseas students, the shortened Graduate Route work time poses a number of difficulties:
Limited Employment Time: International graduates may have a harder time finding long-term employment or switching to alternative visa pathways that lead to settlement because they only have 18 months to obtain work experience. Increasing Demand for Graduate Level Employment: Graduates must quickly find employment that suits their qualifications and career goals in orderto optimize the advantages of the shortened work period.
Possible Effect on the Number of International Students: For overseas students thinking about studying in the UK, the Graduate Route has proven to be astrong lure.Potential students may be put off by the decrease in post study employment options, especially those from nations like India, where the UK has long been a well-liked destination for higher education.
Economic Contributions at Risk: In addition to paying tuition, international students also fill skill shortages in a number of industries, making a significant economic contribution to the UK.These contributions might be impacted if fewer overseas students enroll.
Universities UK: Universities UK has voiced concerns that the reduction in the Graduate Route work term could damage the UK’s appeal as a destination for international students and possibly destabilize university finances, even as they acknowledge the need to address abuses in the visa system.
NISAU, the UK’s National Indian Students and Alumni Union: Although NISAU applauds the government’s decision to keep the Graduate Route in place, it isconcerned about the possible shortening of the poststudy opportunity period. The union calls on the government to take into account the wider ramifications of such policy changes and highlights the significance of the Graduate Route for Indian students.
A major policy change having broad ramifications for overseas students, educational institutions, and the whole economy is the UK’s decision to shorten the Graduate Route employment term from 24 to 18 months.The government’s goal of reducing net migration makes sense, but it is important to strike a balance between immigration management and the need to draw in andkeep top talent from throughout the world.The longterm effects of such decisions on the UK’s standing in the internationaljob and education markets must be taken into account by policy makers.To make sure that the UK’s immigration laws serve both economic goals and the interests ofoverseas students, it will be crucial for all parties involved to have a positive conversation as the situation develops.
